WhatsApp is rolling out a new username system that lets users connect with one another without ever revealing their personal phone numbers.
The Meta-owned messaging giant announced the upcoming update in a Monday blog post, confirming that the privacy feature will be deployed globally later this year.
According to WhatsApp, the change aims to give users significantly more control over their personal data and privacy, especially when chatting with acquaintances or people they have never met face-to-face.
“You want to join the parent chat for the soccer team but you’re not ready to give your phone number to people you’ve never met. That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp,” the company stated.
To give users a head start before the official launch, WhatsApp is allowing individuals to claim and lock in their preferred usernames early, ensuring they can secure their digital identity before the rollout goes wide.
Furthermore, businesses, content creators, and organizations will have the ability to claim the identical usernames they currently use on Facebook and Instagram. This setup is intended to help brands maintain a unified and consistent identity across Meta’s family of apps.
If you want to claim your own username ahead of time, you will need to update to the latest version of WhatsApp and navigate to the option inside your account settings.
The company noted that the rollout will happen in gradual stages, and users will be alerted via notification as soon as the feature goes live in their respective countries.
This major privacy upgrade lines up with Meta’s wider strategy to scale up functionalities across its digital ecosystem.
Just earlier this year, the tech giant revealed plans for a premium subscription package designed to give users advanced tools and heightened control over how they communicate and share media across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
