WhatsApp to Enable Chatting Without Sharing Phone Numbers
WhatsApp is preparing to allow users to communicate without disclosing their phone numbers by using unique usernames instead. This feature will be made available globally to the platform's three billion account holders over the coming months, according to the company.
Starting Monday, users will have the option to reserve a username through the app, although this will not be mandatory. The company stated that users will be able to change or remove their usernames at any time.
Once fully implemented, WhatsApp users will be able to connect by exchanging usernames alone. The platform will continue to provide options to block or report unwanted messages.
Usernames will be limited to 35 characters and will have minimal restrictions. However, certain high-profile officials and celebrities will have their names protected and unavailable for others to claim. This measure is expected to prevent impersonation, such as users adopting names like Donald Trump.
The Meta-owned company described the introduction of usernames as a privacy enhancement.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's head of product, said she had heard from users that they didn't always want to share their phone numbers in order to be in contact with others, particularly in group chats.
She said she hoped the feature would "give users control over how they choose to show up" on the app.
The secure messaging app Signal launched a similar username feature earlier in 2024.
"It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall," said Carisa Veliz, a professor at Oxford University and author of Privacy is Power.
"It collects much metadata about users for marketing purposes.
We have to remember that WhatsApp is owned by Meta - one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy."
When the username feature is fully deployed, individual phone numbers will no longer be visible on WhatsApp. However, there will be no public directory of usernames, and phone numbers will still be required to create a WhatsApp account.
The platform's minimum user age is 13. Messaging apps like WhatsApp will be exempt from the UK's forthcoming social media ban for users under 16, which is scheduled to be implemented next year.
Recently, WhatsApp announced that Kunal Shah, founder of an Indian fintech start-up, will succeed Will Cathcart as head of the platform. Cathcart is stepping down after seven years in the role.
Additional include WhatsApp's evolving privacy controls, its revenue model despite being free, and the launch of private 'incognito' conversations with its AI chatbot.
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