WhatsApp is implementing a new feature allowing users to communicate without disclosing their personal phone numbers by utilizing unique usernames. This update will be accessible to the platform’s three billion users worldwide in the coming months. Starting Monday, individuals can opt to secure a custom name, though participation remains entirely voluntary.
The company confirmed that users have full authority to modify or delete these identifiers whenever they choose. Once the system is live, connecting with others will be possible solely through username exchange, while existing safety tools for blocking or reporting remain in place. Usernames are capped at 35 characters, with specific safeguards preventing the registration of names belonging to high-profile figures or celebrities.
Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, frames this change as a significant privacy enhancement. Alice Newton-Rex, the firm’s head of product, noted that users often express discomfort sharing phone numbers for contact purposes, particularly within group environments. This feature aims to provide individuals with better control over their digital presence.
Experts remain cautious. Carisa Veliz, a professor at Oxford University, acknowledged the utility of the feature but warned that it does not alter WhatsApp’s fundamental data collection practices. She highlighted that because the app is owned by Meta, it continues to harvest metadata for marketing objectives. While phone numbers will be hidden from others, they will still be required to create and maintain an account, and there will be no central public directory of usernames.
