WhatsApp rolls out username feature in Germany

WhatsApp is beginning a phased rollout of a new username system that lets users be contacted without revealing their phone numbers. The feature is currently available to a limited group of accounts that have previously reserved a username; those users receive an in‑app notification that their name can now be used for messaging. Existing chats continue to show the phone number, while contacts who do not have the number will see the username instead.

German consumer protection groups warn that, although the change can improve privacy from other users, Meta will still retain the phone number for account creation and may collect additional personal data, especially when accounts are linked to Facebook or Instagram. They advise users to choose a pseudonym rather than their full name when setting a username.