WhatsApp to Introduce Username Feature for Enhanced User Privacy

CALIFORNIA: (Web Desk) – WhatsApp has announced a new username feature that will allow users to connect with others without sharing their phone numbers, enhancing privacy on the messaging platform.

According to the company, users will be able to choose a unique username, enabling friends, family, businesses, and new contacts to communicate without automatically seeing their phone number.

Meta said the feature will prevent phone numbers from being shared by default when users join WhatsApp groups or message someone for the first time. Instead, people will need to know the correct username to initiate contact.

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With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, Meta noted that some preferred usernames may already be taken. To prevent impersonation and fraud, usernames associated with well-known personalities and senior government officials will not be available to the general public.

The feature is also expected to benefit content creators, small businesses, and organizations, allowing them to use the same usernames across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp.