WhatsApp opens username reservations to 3 billion users
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
WhatsApp said people can reserve unique usernames starting on June 29, with plans for them to become operational later in 2026.
PHOTO: AFP
SAN FRANCISCO – WhatsApp is letting its three billion global users select a username for their account, a change meant to increase privacy by letting people connect on the platform without having to share their phone number.
The messaging service, owned by Meta Platforms, said people can now reserve unique usernames, with plans for them to become operational later in 2026.
Usernames give people more control over who can see their phone number, particularly when interacting with new contacts or joining a group conversation, said WhatsApp’s head of product Alice Newton-Rex.
The company described the change as a major privacy upgrade.
“When you meet someone new... sharing a phone number can feel like a big step,” she added.
The feature resembles similar identification systems offered by rival messaging applications, including Signal, which lets people start a conversation with a username instead of a phone number.
While usernames are often associated with social networking profiles, WhatsApp’s version is designed primarily as a privacy tool, said Newton-Rex.
Users will not be able to browse a directory of usernames, for example, and people must know another person’s exact username to initiate contact.
To avoid impersonation and scams, WhatsApp has set aside existing Facebook and Instagram usernames for their owners during the reservation period, Newton-Rex said.
It will also permanently protect certain high-profile usernames tied to public figures, celebrities and government entities to ensure they cannot be taken over by impostors.
“We think it will be successful if you have another way to feel safe on WhatsApp, to feel like you can keep your phone number private and... feel confident connecting with new people if you want to,” Newton-Rex said. BLOOMBERG
