WhatsApp Begins Rolling Out Usernames, Adds New Privacy Controls
WhatsApp has begun rolling out usernames, allowing users to connect without sharing phone numbers while introducing new privacy and security features ahead of a global launch.
SociapaHQ
WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of a broader global rollout later this year, introducing one of the platform's biggest privacy-focused updates in recent years.
The new feature will allow users to connect with others using a unique username, without needing to share their phone number in some cases, giving users more control over their personal information when connecting with new contacts.
The rollout is happening in phases. Users who have been given access can now reserve a username, and the full feature will roll out over the next few months.
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Privacy Upgrade:
The update is meant to improve privacy by making it less necessary to share phone numbers while still allowing users to connect through the messaging service, WhatsApp says.
WhatsApp has more than three billion users globally and has long used phone numbers as the key identifier. So under the new system, users can continue using their phone numbers or opt to share a username instead.
“Usernames are designed as a privacy feature, not as a public social media identity,” the company said.
When it is activated, users will be able to message new contacts and join some larger group conversations without sharing their phone numbers, if usernames are used.
There won't be a public directory or searchable database of usernames, WhatsApp said. To start a conversation, users will need to know someone else's exact username.
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Security Upgrade:
In addition to usernames, the platform provides an optional Username Key, which is an additional security feature that users can share with trusted contacts. If you are trying to contact a user by username for the first time, you may need to enter the key before you can start a conversation. The key can be changed at anytime.
User names must be between 3 and 35 characters. If a preferred username isn’t available, WhatsApp will offer suggestions and plans to introduce a username generator to help users come up with unique handles.
It will reserve usernames connected to public figures, government organisations, celebrities and other high-profile accounts to help prevent impersonation, the company said.
The feature will also help businesses, creators and organisations by enabling them to claim usernames that correspond with their existing Instagram or Facebook identities, helping them keep consistent branding across Meta platforms.
