Phone Number Privacy

WhatsApp is preparing one of its biggest privacy changes yet: usernames. With the new option, people will be able to start a chat without revealing their phone number to someone they do not know well. The feature directly addresses a long-standing concern in messaging apps, especially for users who join new groups, communities, or business chats. It gives them a way to stay reachable without exposing personal contact details at the first interaction. A new layer of privacy WhatsApp’s Vice President and Head of Product, Alice Newton-Rex, said the feature is a major next step for privacy on the platform. She explained that usernames will offer a new way to connect with someone without giving out a phone number. The option is fully optional, and users will be able to choose their own username. They can also change it or delete it later if needed. WhatsApp has already started letting users reserve usernames this week. Those reserved names will be used when the feature rolls out officially later this year. How it will work The rollout will not happen everywhere at once. WhatsApp said the feature will arrive gradually over the next few months, and users will receive a notification when it becomes available in their country. Once active, the username system will prevent a phone number from being shown when a user sends a first message to someone else, unless that number is already saved by the other person. The same rule will apply when users contact a business for the first time. If the username is active and the number is not already stored, the phone number will not be visible to the recipient. Feature What It Does Privacy Impact Username Lets users chat without sharing a phone number Reduces exposure of personal contact details Username Key An optional extra key that others must know before messaging Adds another layer of control over incoming chats Reservation Allows users to secure a username before launch Helps protect preferred names early Extra protection for unwanted messages WhatsApp said it will not add a public username directory or a recommendation system. A person will need to know the exact username before contacting someone for the first time. That design choice is meant to reduce mass searching and make it harder for usernames to become an open door to random contact. It keeps the system useful without turning it into a searchable public directory. The company is also preparing an optional username key. Other people will need to know that key before they can send a message to the account owner. Not just for personal accounts WhatsApp said the feature is also meant to help creators, small businesses, and organizations. They will be able to use usernames that match the ones already used on Instagram or Facebook. That alignment could make identity across Meta’s platforms more consistent, while still keeping phone numbers private at the start of a conversation. WhatsApp also plans to offer a username generator to help people choose a name. Users who want to reserve a name can do so through Settings > Account > Username in the latest WhatsApp app. After that, they only need to wait for the notification that the feature is live in their region. WhatsApp says the new system will not change its core security model. Private messages and calls will still be protected by end-to-end encryption automatically.

WhatsApp’s New Username System Could Finally Hide Your Number From Strangers