WhatsApp to Introduce Usernames, Allowing Users to Connect Without Sharing Phone Numbers

WhatsApp is set to introduce a username-based system that will allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers, marking one of the messaging platform’s most significant privacy-focused updates in recent years. Under the new system, users will be able to create unique usernames that can be used to connect with others on the platform. While a phone number will still be required to register and verify an account, users will no longer need to share that number when initiating conversations with new contacts. Instead, interactions can take place through usernames, similar to systems used by several other social media and messaging platforms.

According to WhatsApp, the change is designed to address a longstanding privacy concern associated with the platform’s phone-number-based identity model. The company said users will have the option to reserve usernames and, in some cases, align them with handles already used on other Meta-owned platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. To prevent impersonation and misuse, prominent usernames linked to public figures and organisations will be protected and reserved.

The company has also clarified that usernames will not be publicly searchable through a directory. Users will need to know the exact username of the person they wish to contact. In addition, WhatsApp is developing optional security measures, including a username key, which could provide an extra layer of protection by restricting who can initiate contact. With more than three billion users worldwide, WhatsApp’s adoption of usernames is expected to significantly reshape how people connect and interact on one of the world’s largest messaging platforms.