Ravie LakshmananJun 29, 2026Privacy / Social Media
WhatsApp on Monday officially announced the start of global reservations of usernames with an aim to protect the privacy of more than three billion users on the messaging platform.
The optional feature is designed to help users connect with someone on the service through usernames, as opposed to directly sharing their phone numbers. Username reservations will start rolling out starting today, enabling users to create and reserve a username before the feature becomes generally available later this year.
"You choose your own, and it doesn't have to match your handle on any other app," the Meta-owned messaging app said in a statement shared with The Hacker News ahead of publication.
"At its core, it's a privacy feature, not a social media handle – there's no directory to browse and no suggestions, so people need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time."
