WhatsApp to Allow Users to Go by Usernames Instead of Phone Numbers

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WhatsApp is giving its 3 billion users the option to be contacted by usernames instead of phone numbers. This decision, announced by WhatsApp, aims to address a long-standing privacy concern.

The app has started allowing users to reserve unique usernames, which can be used to contact WhatsApp users when the feature is launched later this year. WhatsApp's vice president of product, Alice Newton-Rex, said the move is a core privacy feature.

And the company has designed this as a core privacy feature, giving users the option to be found and contacted only by their username, and not their number. Yet, people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first sale.

While Americans still prefer text messaging to WhatsApp, the app is widely used in Europe, Asia, and much of the rest of the world. Catchy online handles are highly coveted, and users will likely scramble to claim a desirable one.

Companies, organisations, and creators with existing accounts on Meta's social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, will get the chance to claim their usernames on WhatsApp. Usernames need to be between three and 35 characters.

To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp will hold back usernames for high-profile people or groups such as celebrities, public figures, and government entities. This is a crucial step in protecting the identities of these individuals.

In an interview, Newton-Rex said: >"I think a lot of people will go and get usernames and that's why we decided to open reservations early," she said. The move is a significant upgrade for the app and its users.

According to WhatsApp, over the coming months, users will get the option to be found and contacted only by their username, and not their number. This means people will need to search for your exact username to contact you for the first time.

But the exact timeline for the launch is not specified. WhatsApp says it will hold back usernames for high-profile people or groups such as celebrities, public figures, and government entities to prevent impersonation.

The company has also emphasized that there won't be a directory of usernames on the app, and the app won't suggest names as you type. Users will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.

In other words, usernames are not a replacement for phone numbers, but rather an additional way for users to be contacted. This is a significant development for the app and its users.

The move is seen as a step in the right direction for WhatsApp, which has faced criticism over its data collection practices in the past. By giving users the option to be contacted by usernames, WhatsApp is addressing a long-standing privacy concern.