Meta is bringing a major change to WhatsApp, one of the most popular smartphone communication platforms. Once the new feature launches, users will not have to share mobile numbers to contact others. Instead, they will be able to connect through unique usernames.
More than 300 crore people worldwide use WhatsApp. Until now, users had to exchange mobile numbers to contact someone through the app. That created a risk of exposing personal numbers, especially in group chats or when communicating with unfamiliar people.
To reduce the problem, WhatsApp is preparing to roll out the username feature gradually worldwide from this year. The process of booking or reserving usernames has already begun for some users. Once the feature is fully launched, a mobile number will still be needed to open an account, but it will not be visible to other users. To contact someone new, sharing only the username will be enough.
WhatsApp product chief Alice Newton-Rex said the feature was designed with user privacy in mind. It will be useful especially for keeping personal numbers hidden when joining different groups. Users will also be able to change or delete their usernames later if they want.
Specific rules have been set for creating usernames. The name must be at least three and no more than 35 characters long. It may include lowercase English letters, numbers, periods and underscores. But usernames cannot begin with “www.” and cannot end with a domain. A username cannot be made only with numbers or symbols; it must include at least one English letter.
To prevent confusion and fraud using the names of known people, celebrities or government officials, WhatsApp is reserving some important usernames in advance. Other users will not be able to take those names. The new feature is also being coordinated with Facebook and Instagram. If a person, organization or content creator wants to use the same username on WhatsApp that they use on Facebook or Instagram, they will have to connect the accounts through Accounts Center to confirm ownership. But if someone else already uses the username on Facebook or Instagram, it cannot be claimed on WhatsApp even if it is available there.
The feature is being introduced gradually. Users can check whether it has reached their account through WhatsApp profile settings. Once enabled, an option to choose a username will appear there. The username booking process can be completed only from the mobile app.
Some privacy questions have also arisen around the new system. Although WhatsApp messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, some cybersecurity experts have warned about metadata. They say usernames may hide personal numbers but will not remove all privacy risks.
There are also concerns that the new system could increase fraud risks. WhatsApp said multiple layers of security are in place to prevent misuse. These include a special short-code system called a username key. If it is active, an unknown person will not be able to send a first message unless they know both the specific username and the code. Users will also retain the existing ability to block and report unwanted users.
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