WhatsApp has started rolling out username reservations ahead of the official launch of a new feature that will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers, marking one of the app’s most significant privacy updates in recent years.
The new feature will enable users to choose a unique username within the app or use a built-in username generator to suggest available options. WhatsApp is expected to roll out the feature gradually over the coming months before making it more widely available worldwide.
With this update, WhatsApp aims to reduce reliance on phone numbers as the main way to start conversations, especially in situations where users need to communicate with people they do not personally know, such as groups, events, digital communities, or early-stage professional interactions.
The feature will also allow creators, businesses, and organizations to use the same account names they already have on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a unified digital identity across Meta’s platforms.
Despite introducing username-based communication, WhatsApp clarified that the feature will not include a public directory for searching accounts. Users will need to know the exact username to start a conversation. The app will also offer an optional security key, giving users greater control over who can contact them.
The update is particularly important because it addresses one of WhatsApp’s long-standing privacy concerns: the need to share a phone number when contacting new people. The feature is expected to support wider use of the app in professional and community-based settings while offering stronger privacy and better protection for personal data.
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