WhatsApp Introduces Usernames, Ends Need to Share Phone Numbers

WhatsApp is set to introduce usernames that will allow users to connect and exchange messages without revealing their phone numbers, marking one of the platform’s biggest privacy updates in recent years.

The Meta-owned messaging service announced that the feature will be rolled out to its more than three billion users worldwide over the coming months, with username reservations expected to begin on Monday.

Under the new system, users will be able to create a unique username that others can use to find and message them, eliminating the need to exchange personal phone numbers before starting a conversation.

The company said adopting a username would be optional, adding that users could edit or delete their usernames whenever they wished.

WhatsApp explained that once the feature becomes widely available, people will be able to connect by sharing usernames instead of phone numbers, while existing safety features, including the ability to block or report unwanted contacts, will remain unchanged.

According to the platform, usernames can contain up to 35 characters and will be subject to a limited number of restrictions. It added that usernames associated with prominent public figures and celebrities would be protected to prevent impersonation.

The messaging platform described the feature as part of its efforts to strengthen user privacy by giving people greater control over the personal information they choose to disclose.

Head of Product at WhatsApp, Alice Newton-Rex, said the company introduced the feature after receiving feedback from users who preferred not to share their phone numbers, particularly when interacting with strangers or participating in group conversations.

She said the update would “give users control over how they choose to show up” on the platform.

The announcement has, however, generated mixed reactions among digital privacy advocates.

Professor at the University of Oxford and author of Privacy is Power, Carissa Véliz, welcomed the move but argued that it does not fully address broader privacy concerns surrounding the platform.

“It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall,” she said.

“It collects much metadata about users for marketing purposes.

“We have to remember that WhatsApp is owned by Meta; one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy.”

Responding to such concerns, WhatsApp maintained that the contents of users’ private conversations remain protected through end-to-end encryption and are not used for advertising because the company cannot access or read those messages.

It noted, however, that it still uses certain metadata, including information about who users communicate with and the timing of those interactions, to support its advertising business.

The company said that once the username feature is fully deployed, users’ phone numbers will no longer be visible to people they connect with through usernames. It clarified that there will be no public directory listing usernames and that phone numbers will still be required when creating a WhatsApp account.

WhatsApp also confirmed that its minimum age requirement remains 13 years. It added that messaging applications will not be affected by the United Kingdom’s proposed ban on social media use by children under 16, which is expected to come into force next year.

In a separate announcement, the company disclosed a leadership change, naming Founder of Indian fintech startup CRED, Kunal Shah, as its new head. He will succeed Will Cathcart, who is stepping down after leading the platform for seven years.