Phone numbers are ancient history. WhatsApp finally agrees.
The app is rolling out usernames. This lets you hide your actual number from people you message for the first time. A big deal for privacy, maybe? Definitely for those who value it. Meta announced the change on Monday. You can start reserving a handle right now. The feature itself drops later this year.
“Usernames are our latest step,” they wrote. “There’s no directory. No suggestions. People need your exact username.”
It’s not a search engine. It’s a gate. If they don’t know the name, they don’t find you. Once enabled, your phone number stays hidden. At least from strangers. Or new contacts. The first message they send? They won’t see the digits behind your avatar.
“There’s no directory to browse – people will need to know your excat username to contact you.”
Why wait? Why not now? Rolling out globally takes time. Three billion users don’t flip a switch at once. Meta promises notification when it hits your region. Keep the app updated. Go to settings. Click account. Then username. Simple.
Choose wisely. Make it unique. Something only your friends know. If you want spam bots, sure. Pick ‘User123’. But if you value peace? Get creative. A generator helps.
Small businesses care too. They hate inconsistency. Good news: if you have an Instagram or Facebook handle, claim it here too. One identity to rule them all? Not quite. But it’s cleaner.
No directory. No easy find. Just you, your handle, and whoever remembers it.
