WhatsApp to Introduce Usernames, Moving Away From Phone Number Dependence

WhatsApp users will soon have the option to use unique usernames to contact others, a move the company says will address a significant privacy concern by reducing reliance on phone numbers. The feature, announced Monday, will allow users to be found and contacted by their chosen username rather than their phone number.

This change aims to close a privacy blind spot, as previously, anyone with a user's phone number could contact them on the platform. WhatsApp, which boasts over 3 billion users globally, will begin allowing users to reserve their usernames in the coming months, with the feature expected to launch later this year. According to Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's vice president of product, this is designed as a "core privacy feature."

While the app currently offers limited privacy settings like blocking individual users and silencing unknown callers, the new username system will provide an additional layer of control. Users will also be able to set a profile name, which is visible in group chats for contacts not saved in their phone.

There will be no directory of usernames within the app, nor will it suggest names as users type. To initiate contact for the first time, individuals will need to know the exact username of the person they wish to reach. Usernames must be between three and 35 characters long. To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp will reserve usernames for high-profile individuals and entities such as celebrities, public figures, and government organizations.

Companies, organizations, and creators with existing accounts on Meta's other platforms, Instagram and Facebook, will be given priority to claim their corresponding WhatsApp usernames. The company began opening reservations early, anticipating a high demand for desirable usernames, which are often highly sought after online. While text messaging remains popular in the United States, WhatsApp is extensively used across Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.