For nearly fifteen years WhatsApp has been the world’s most personal messaging app, built on a simple idea that your phone number is your identity.
But now, WhatsApp users will have the option to go by usernames instead of phone numbers, Meta said. The app it has started allowing users to reserve unique usernames, which can be used to contact WhatsApp users when the feature will be launched later this year.
The app has more than 3 billion users globally, it will shift the way people connect online, promising new layers of privacy, safety and control.
The deployment of usernames instead of phone numbers could prevent users from spam, harassment, or unwanted contact, as the username will allow people to chat without revealing personal digits.
The app, owned by Meta Platforms, stated users will have the option to be found and contacted only by their usernames and not their numbers.
“We have designed this as a core privacy feature,” WhatsApp vice president said.
This update will rebuild credibility by prioritizing user safety and identity management across the platforms, as Meta has faced scrutiny over data protection.
WhatsApp is not just a messaging app but a lifeline for business, community and family communication, as it has dominated both personal and professional communication.
The app also allows users to add a profile name, and its current privacy settings are limited to blocking individual users and silencing unknown callers.
