WhatsApp is rolling out a new option for users to reserve WhatsApp usernames, aiming to let people start conversations without sharing phone numbers. Multiple reports say WhatsApp introduces usernames as part of a broader effort to protect privacy, particularly for people who are not already in someone’s contacts. Instead of initiating a chat by sharing a phone number, users can share a username to connect on the platform.
The feature is described as optional and is presented as addressing a “privacy blind spot” where phone numbers are typically used to find and contact others. Reporting also indicates that WhatsApp is opening username reservations first, with a wider launch scheduled for later this year or later in the year, depending on the outlet.
Several sources add that WhatsApp does not plan to create a public username directory or provide username suggestions to other users, limiting discoverability. NDTV specifically notes additional privacy controls, including an optional “username key” for first-time contacts, and also describes how certain accounts (such as creators, businesses, and organizations) may claim usernames linked to existing Instagram or Facebook handles for consistency across Meta platforms.
