WhatsApp, a popular messaging app, has announced plans to introduce usernames as an added layer of privacy for its users. This new feature will allow users to be contacted by their username instead of their phone number.

How it Works

Users will be able to reserve unique usernames, which can be used to contact them on the app. The feature is set to be launched later this year, although the exact timeline has not been specified. According to Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product, the app has been designed with privacy in mind, and this new feature is a core part of that effort.

There will be no directory of usernames on the app, and users will need to know the exact username of the person they want to contact in order to reach them. This is a significant change from the current system, where users can be contacted by anyone who has their phone number.

Reserving Usernames

Companies, organizations, and creators with existing accounts on Meta’s social media platforms, Instagram and Facebook, will get the chance to claim their usernames on WhatsApp. Usernames will need to be between three and 35 characters, and WhatsApp will hold back usernames for high-profile individuals or groups to prevent impersonation.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.