WhatsApp says it is preparing to let users identify themselves with usernames rather than relying solely on phone numbers. The company describes the change as a way to close what it calls a privacy blind spot created by phone-number-based identification. Multiple outlets report that WhatsApp will offer an option for users to choose usernames, which would reduce exposure of personal phone numbers in contexts where a username could be used. The announcements come as WhatsApp continues to adjust features related to how people find and interact with one another on the platform. While the reports focus on the privacy motivation and the availability of a username option, they do not detail timing beyond that the feature is “soon,” nor do they specify how usernames will work alongside existing phone-number settings, or what the user experience will be for finding contacts. Overall, the coverage agrees that WhatsApp is moving toward username-based identification to give users a privacy alternative to phone-number visibility.