WhatsApp to let users pick usernames, ditching phone numbers

Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp is set to introduce a significant privacy update that will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. Under the new system, users will be able to choose unique usernames, a move designed to protect personal information.

This feature aims to address privacy concerns, particularly when users are added to large group chats or initiate contact with new individuals or businesses. Currently, phone numbers are often shared automatically in these scenarios. By restricting access to phone numbers, WhatsApp intends to prevent them from being exposed unintentionally.

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designed to protect the privacy of your phone number

Meta, which claims over three billion users for WhatsApp, acknowledges that the sheer volume of users means that not everyone will secure their preferred username. The company plans a phased global rollout of username reservations over the next few months. Users will be notified in their respective countries as the feature becomes available.

In preparation for the broader rollout, creators, small businesses, and organizations will be permitted to claim WhatsApp usernames that they already utilize on other Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram. This allows for a consistent online identity across Meta's ecosystem.

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there’s no directory to browse and no suggestions, so people need to know your exact username to contact you