WhatsApp is introducing a username feature that allows users to connect and chat without sharing their phone numbers [1].
This shift marks a significant change in how the platform handles identity and privacy. By decoupling accounts from phone numbers, the service reduces the amount of personal data users must expose to strangers or professional contacts, bringing the experience closer to the privacy controls found on Instagram [1, 3].
Username reservations are open now [1, 3]. The full feature will roll out in phases over the next few months later this year [1, 3]. This phased approach allows the company to manage the transition for its massive global user base, which exceeds three billion people [4].
The update aims to enhance user privacy by reducing the reliance on phone numbers as the sole identifier [1, 3]. Users can now create a unique handle to share with others, ensuring their private mobile number remains hidden from the recipient's contact list.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, is implementing these changes globally across its messaging platform [1]. The company said the update is a way to provide stronger privacy controls while maintaining the app's core functionality as a communication tool [1, 3].
Users who wish to secure a specific handle can begin the reservation process immediately to ensure their preferred username is available before the general rollout concludes [2].
“WhatsApp is introducing a username feature that lets users connect and chat without sharing their phone numbers.”
The introduction of usernames transforms WhatsApp from a phone-centric directory into a more traditional social messaging service. By removing the requirement to share a phone number to initiate a conversation, Meta is addressing a long-standing privacy gap that often deterred users from using the app for business or public networking.
