WhatsApp said Monday that it is adding a username feature allowing users to be identified by a handle instead of a phone number [1].

This change addresses a long-standing privacy gap for the messaging service. By removing the requirement to share a personal phone number to initiate a conversation, the company said it aims to give users more control over their personal data and digital identity [2].

Currently, WhatsApp requires a phone number for account creation and discovery. The new system will allow users to keep their phone numbers concealed from contacts who are not already saved in their address books [3]. This shift brings the platform closer to the functionality of other social messaging apps where handles serve as the primary identifier [4].

Meta Platforms, the parent company of WhatsApp, said it intends to roll out the feature globally [5]. While the announcement occurred this week, the company expects the rollout to be completed later this year [1].

The move is designed to close a privacy blind spot [2]. For many users, sharing a phone number with strangers or professional acquaintances creates a permanent link to their personal identity and other linked accounts [3]. Usernames provide a layer of abstraction, a digital buffer that protects the user's primary contact information while maintaining the ability to communicate [4].

Users will be able to reserve their handles as the feature becomes available in their respective regions [6]. The implementation is expected to be integrated directly into the existing user profile settings, allowing for a seamless transition from the phone-centric model to a handle-based system [5].

“WhatsApp is adding a username feature that lets users be identified by a handle instead of sharing their phone number.”

The introduction of usernames represents a fundamental shift in WhatsApp's identity architecture. By decoupling the account from a mandatory phone number for discovery, Meta is responding to increasing global demand for anonymity and data minimization. This change likely aims to attract a broader user base that prefers the privacy models of platforms like Telegram or Signal, potentially increasing user retention in markets with strict privacy preferences.