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WhatsApp is gearing up to roll out Usernames, a feature that will let you chat with others on the platform without handing over your personal phone number – you’ll simply share your unique WhatsApp username instead.
WhatsApp first announced a target This feature will be available in 2024. Other privacy-focused chat apps like Signal supports usernames For a few years now.
Meta, which also owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, began allowing users to reserve their WhatsApp usernames on Monday, ahead of the feature’s official launch later this year.
Usernames will become the default way people see you on WhatsApp when you enable them. If you want someone to have your phone number, you can share it whenever you want.
Privacy vs. phone numbers
Although phone numbers have long been a universal way to contact others, they are also used as identifiers and are closely linked to our personal data.
In a blog post about the launch, WhatsApp said that usernames help make the app a more private way to communicate.
“There’s no guide to browsing and no suggestions — people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.” says this post. Your username will be the default way new contacts see you, whether you’re added to a group chat or text a new person or company.
A WhatsApp representative confirmed to CNET via email that the feature “protects the privacy of your phone number to new contacts, so you have to share it manually if you want them to have it.” If you already have that person’s number saved in your contact list, nothing will change in the app.
Personally, I hope that username support will provide some degree of protection against the unwanted group chat that sometimes appears in the app. Moving away from relying on a phone number may give you more control over who can and cannot text you within the app.
How to reserve your unique username
WhatsApp has opened reservations for you to secure your username. Once you do this, this username cannot be claimed by another account.
You can reserve your username by visiting You Tab, tapping account And then choose the new one user name option.
The new username option is located under Account Settings.
Clicking on it will bring up a page to claim your username, as well as the option to claim the same username directly from Instagram or Facebook.
WhatsApp will let you create an original username or use your username from another Meta-owned service like Instagram or Facebook.
After selecting the option and filling in your preferred username, the page will let you know if the username you wish to use is still available.
Once you confirm your username, WhatsApp says you’ll receive a notification when the username starts being supported, which should be sometime in the coming months.
The username creation screen will let you know if the nickname you want is still available.
Once the feature is officially launched, others will be able to find you either by typing your username or using your username and digital key.
