Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp introduces usernames for 'even more' privacy

Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp introduced usernames on Monday (June 29), saying the new feature will make chatting "even more private".

Starting this week, more than three billion users can reserve a username ahead of the feature's launch later this year. This means that once the feature is available, people messaging another user or a business for the first time will no longer see the sender's phone number, but instead their username.

To contact someone for the first time, users will have to know the person's exact username, as there will be no searchable username directory or suggestions, WhatsApp said.

The company also introduced an optional username key, which users can choose to enable for added control over who can contact them.

Creators, small businesses and organisations who want to maintain a consistent presence online also have the option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook usernames.

The feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months. Users will be notified when it becomes available in their country.

Users can create or reserve a username by going to Settings on WhatsApp, selecting their profile and choosing the username option. They can then enter a preferred username and save it if available.

Currently, username reservations are only available through a user’s primary mobile device, not on WhatsApp Web or Desktop. /TISG

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