WhatsApp to Let Users Chat Without Sharing Phone Numbers Through Usernames

Stop Giving Your Number To Strangers

WhatsApp is rolling out a big privacy upgrade that will change the way we connect on the app fundamentally. Soon you won’t have to give out your personal phone number to meet someone new. Instead, the platform is introducing unique usernames so you can connect with people like you do on apps like Discord or Instagram.

This is a big shift for an app that has tied your digital identity to your mobile number from day one. The awkward hurdle of giving out your phone number to a casual acquaintance, a marketplace seller or someone in a public group chat is soon going to be a thing of the past.

How the new system will operate

It’s quite simple to get started. You will be able to create a unique username associated with your account. If you want to connect with someone who is not in your immediate circle of friends, you just give them your handle. They can type it into the WhatsApp search bar, find your profile, and start a conversation, all while your real phone number is completely hidden from view.

What’s changing: Your handle becomes your public face for new chats, large communities and business enquiries

What doesn’t change: Your phone number is still used behind the scenes to log in and keep your account secure.

The long wait for privacy wins

Privacy advocates have been calling for this kind of change for years. If someone has your phone number, there’s not much you can do about it if a professional relationship goes bad or a casual transaction turns sour. WhatsApp is providing its users much more control over their personal data with a layer of username privacy between your personal life and the public.

The feature is still under development and has not yet been released to beta testers,