Privacy is taking a step forward: After years in which every WhatsApp user was required to identify themselves using a personal phone number, Meta is planning to launch a new option that will allow users to use a username instead. This is considered one of the most significant updates to the service since its founding, and the company intends to roll it out during the coming year.
According to reports published on technology sites worldwide, Meta has sent official notices to businesses using WhatsApp, asking them to prepare for the upcoming change — one that is expected to alter the way people use the app. As part of the new feature, users will be able to choose a unique username that will appear in private and group chats instead of their phone number — a step that will significantly improve privacy protection.
Meta explained that the initiative is primarily aimed at strengthening users’ sense of security and reducing the need to expose phone numbers. For example, anyone who wants to start a conversation with another person or a business will be able to do so based solely on their username, without needing to know or reveal a personal number. The new feature will be optional, and each user will be able to decide whether or not to activate it.
For businesses, this represents a strategic upgrade. A username will allow companies to promote their brand and appear more professional and trustworthy, instead of relying on phone numbers that often seem anonymous. The company also noted that the change will make it easier for customers to contact brands and businesses, as they will no longer need to save a number in their contact list to start a chat.
Telegram, WhatsApp’s biggest competitor, has for years offered an identity system based solely on usernames. Every user can choose a unique name that allows others to contact them without knowing their phone number. The Signal app also offers a similar feature, and now WhatsApp is expected to join the global trend of private, number-free communication.
According to the information revealed, the username feature will be introduced gradually. In the first phase, users will have the opportunity to reserve their desired name before the official launch, in order to prevent early capture of popular usernames. Meta has already published clear rules for usernames: They must be between three and thirty characters long, cannot start with “www” or end with domain extensions such as .com or .net, and may only include periods or underscores as special characters.
In an email sent to businesses, Meta wrote: “We’ve noticed that users feel more secure when their personal information remains private. The new option will allow everyone to communicate openly and comfortably without fear of exposing personal data.”
The change comes after more than two years of behind-the-scenes testing. As early as May 2023, the first signs emerged that WhatsApp was developing a username system, but only now has official confirmation been given that the development is nearing completion.
Within the WhatsApp user community, the move has been met with both enthusiasm and curiosity. Many see it as a long-awaited step that places WhatsApp alongside Telegram and Signal in the realm of advanced privacy protection. Others wonder how the company will handle fake accounts, impersonations, or offensive usernames — issues Meta will need to address through both technological and regulatory means. The service is expected to enter a pilot phase during the coming year, initially launching for selected businesses worldwide and gradually expanding to all users of the app.