TL;DRWhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames starting today, so people can connect without sharing their phone number for the first time.
WhatsApp is opening username reservations starting today, allowing its more than three billion users to connect with people without sharing their phone number for the first time. The feature, which has been in development for several years, will officially roll out later this year. A phone number is still required to create an account, but once a username is set, new contacts will no longer need to see it.
Users can choose any username between three and 35 characters, as long as it does not violate the company’s policies. WhatsApp said it is reserving usernames for top celebrities, VIPs, and organisations ahead of the general rollout. Businesses and creators who want to maintain consistency across Meta’s platforms can claim their existing Facebook or Instagram username as their WhatsApp handle.
“When you meet someone new, whether it’s a classmate, a neighbour, or someone you met at an event, sharing your phone number can feel like a big step,” Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President and Head of Product at WhatsApp, said in a briefing. “Usernames are designed to give you control of who gets to see your phone number in the first place.” The feature closes a privacy gap that rival messaging apps addressed years ago.
