WhatsApp to launch 'usernames' feature, hiding phone numbers for privacy

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new 'username' feature, designed to significantly bolster user privacy by enabling communication without the need to disclose personal phone numbers. Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp Vice President and Head of Product, announced that this feature represents a major privacy enhancement for the Meta-owned messaging app.

Starting this week, users can begin reserving their chosen usernames, which will become active when the feature officially launches later this year. Newton-Rex explained that usernames provide users with greater control over who can access their phone numbers from the outset. This is an entirely optional feature, allowing users to select, modify, or delete their username at will. She believes that the reluctance to share phone numbers often acts as a barrier to connecting with new individuals, such as neighbors or community members.

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We're launching the next major privacy improvement on WhatsApp: usernames. This is a new way to connect with someone without giving them your phone number.

To maintain privacy, WhatsApp will not offer a search directory or username recommendations. Individuals must know the exact username of another user to initiate contact, adding a layer of security. An optional username lock feature is also being introduced, requiring explicit knowledge before a message can be sent to the account owner. Once activated, users messaging a person or business for the first time will not reveal their phone number unless it is already saved in the contact list.

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Usernames are designed to give you control over who can see your phone number from the start. This is a completely optional feature. You can choose your own username, change it, or delete it.

Beyond individual users, WhatsApp is extending this username functionality to content creators, small businesses, and organizations, allowing them to align their usernames with existing Instagram or Facebook accounts. A username generator will also be available to assist users in finding suitable names. The feature will be deployed incrementally over the coming months, with users able to make reservations via the Settings > Account > Username menu in the latest app version.

WhatsApp emphasizes that the introduction of usernames will not compromise the platform's fundamental security. All private messages and calls will continue to be protected by automatic end-to-end encryption, ensuring the confidentiality of user communications.

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If you activate a username when messaging a person or business for the first time, they will no longer see your phone number unless they have already saved it.