WhatsApp launches global username feature to hide phone numbers
WhatsApp, the Meta‑owned messaging app used by billions, is introducing a username system that will let users start chats without revealing their phone numbers. The feature is being rolled out gradually worldwide, and reservation of a unique username is now open to users in the early phases.
The change is marketed as a privacy boost, with an optional four‑digit security key that can restrict who can initiate a conversation. There will be no public directory; contacts must know the exact username to reach a user.
Regulators in India have warned that the new handles could enable impersonation of public figures, banks, and government agencies, and have asked WhatsApp to pause a mass rollout until safeguards are in place. WhatsApp says it will proactively reserve names of high‑profile entities and allow businesses to claim the same handle they use on Instagram or Facebook.
The update is expected to reach all users over the coming months, after a reservation period that lets early adopters claim their preferred names.