WHATSAPP USERS CAN NOW CHAT WITHOUT SHARING PHONE NUMBER

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to communicate without disclosing their phone number. Instead, users will be able to create optional usernames similar to those on Instagram, X or Telegram. The messaging platform announced that users can begin reserving usernames through the app's Settings, Account and Username menu. According to WhatsApp, usernames will become available gradually over forthcoming months, with users receiving notification when the feature launches in their country.

The update represents a significant privacy modification for the platform, which has historically required users to share their mobile number to be contacted. WhatsApp is used by more than three billion individuals worldwide. The username feature is intended to address a longstanding privacy issue on the app. Ed Stapleton, a technology expert, stated that users should act promptly if they wish to claim a straightforward or memorable username before others do.

The feature remains voluntary and could benefit users when dealing with new contacts, holiday accommodation hosts, marketplace sellers, community groups, professional connections or unfamiliar individuals. Until now, sharing a WhatsApp contact has typically meant providing a phone number, which users may not have wished to disclose in such circumstances. WhatsApp users are being advised to check the app immediately to understand how the new feature works.