WhatsApp is rolling out a significant privacy update that will change how billions of users connect on the platform. Starting later this year, WhatsApp will introduce personalized usernames, allowing users to chat without revealing their phone numbers to everyone they message.
Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has evolved from a simple messaging app to a comprehensive platform featuring voice and video calls, file sharing, and large community groups. This upcoming update marks one of its biggest changes in years by shifting towards a username system similar to those used by other social media apps.
With over 3.3 billion monthly users, WhatsApp will gradually enable users worldwide to create and share unique usernames instead of their actual phone numbers. This feature is especially useful for interactions with new contacts, casual acquaintances, or businesses, where you might want to keep your mobile number private. Although your phone number remains linked to your account behind the scenes, the username lets you control who sees it.
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If you don’t claim your preferred username promptly, someone else may take it. For most casual conversations with friends and family, this change might seem minor, but for those who use WhatsApp for online buying, selling, or first-time communications, it offers crucial protection against having their numbers dispersed or saved by strangers.
WhatsApp also highlights the benefit for small businesses and organizations seeking a steady online presence. The update will allow users to claim the same username they already use on other Meta platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, maintaining consistency across their digital identity.
Consumer watchdog Which? has endorsed the move, emphasizing how it enhances privacy by enabling chats without sharing phone numbers. However, Which? also warns users to stay vigilant: “Just because a username looks legitimate doesn’t guarantee authenticity. Scammers can create convincing fake profiles rapidly, so always double-check before sharing money or personal details.”
Lisa Barber, Which?’s Tech Editor, described this as “one of WhatsApp’s biggest privacy changes in years,” noting it aligns WhatsApp with other messaging services that allow connections without exchanging phone numbers. She also recommends that users enable two-step verification, a security feature requiring a PIN to access the app regularly, which helps protect messages if a phone is lost or stolen.
To activate two-step verification, users can find the option within the WhatsApp app’s settings under the security section.