WhatsApp brings major privacy shift with username system

MENLO PARK: WhatsApp is preparing to roll out a major privacy overhaul that could fundamentally change how people connect on the platform, replacing phone numbers with unique usernames.

The messaging giant, owned by Meta, will allow users to interact without revealing their personal numbers, marking one of its biggest privacy shifts in years.

The feature will be gradually introduced to nearly three billion users worldwide over the coming months. From Monday, users will begin reserving usernames inside the app, although participation will remain optional in the early phase.

Once fully activated, users will be able to connect simply by exchanging usernames, while phone numbers will no longer be visible to others on the platform. However, a phone number will still be required to create an account.

WhatsApp says the change is aimed at giving users greater control over their identity, especially in group chats where many are reluctant to share personal contact details. Users will still have the ability to block or report unwanted contacts.

Usernames will be limited to 35 characters, and restrictions will apply to prevent impersonation of public figures and celebrities.

Despite the privacy upgrade, experts caution that the platform still collects metadata linked to user activity, even though messages remain end-to-end encrypted and cannot be read for advertising purposes.

The update follows a similar move by messaging app Signal, which introduced username-based communication in 2024.

Once fully implemented, WhatsApp phone numbers will no longer be visible to other users, signalling a quiet but significant shift in how the world’s most popular messaging app defines privacy.