WhatsApp to let users chat with usernames instead of phone numbers
WhatsApp is in the process of rolling out usernames so people will have the option of starting conversations without sharing their phone number.
The Meta-owned app will gradually introduce the feature to its three billion users in the coming months. From this week, users can reserve their desired name through the app, although it isn’t compulsory and can be changed or removed at any time.
Once the change is fully live, people will have the ability to connect via usernames alone. WhatsApp says that your phone number will no longer be visible to other users, but you’ll still need one when you first set up your account.
For UK users, the appeal is obvious. Buying and selling on sites like Facebook Marketplace, joining local community groups, or messaging someone new will no longer mean having to give your personal phone number to a stranger.
To reserve a username, simply go to your account or profile settings in the app. The option to choose your name will appear once it becomes available. Keep in mind, however, that this cannot be done on WhatsApp Web or Desktop. For now, names are capped at 35 characters.
WhatsApp has built in a few safeguards for the new system. You’ll still be able to block or report unwanted messages, and there’s an optional “username key”. This short code means people can only reach you if they have both your username and the key.
The move is a notable shift for a platform that has always relied on phone numbers as its main way to connect. It also arrives just as messaging apps look set to escape the UK’s planned social media ban for under-16s.