Data Privacy: WhatsApp to let users chat without sharing phone numbers

By Juliet Umeh

Meta-owned WhatsApp has unveiled a new privacy feature that will allow users to chat without sharing their phone numbers, giving users greater control over their personal information.

The messaging platform on Monday began rolling out username reservations globally ahead of the feature’s full launch later this year.

With the update, users who enable the feature will be able to communicate with new contacts using unique usernames instead of their phone numbers, making interactions with classmates, neighbours, event attendees and members of community groups more private.

According to WhatsApp, the initiative is part of its broader effort to strengthen privacy protections for its more than three billion users worldwide.

The company said sharing a phone number can feel like “a big step” because it is tied to many aspects of a person’s life.

“Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits,” WhatsApp said.

Users will be able to reserve unique usernames before the feature is fully launched, allowing them to secure their preferred identity in advance.

WhatsApp stressed that usernames are designed primarily to enhance privacy rather than function as social media handles.

“There is no directory to browse and no suggestions. People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time,” the company explained.

To further strengthen security, WhatsApp is introducing an optional username key, which will require anyone contacting a user for the first time to enter a unique key before sending a message.

The platform advised users to choose unique usernames and share them only with people they intend to communicate with. It also introduced a username generator to help users create available usernames.

For creators, small businesses and organisations, WhatsApp will allow users to claim the same usernames they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.

Once the feature is fully available, users who communicate through usernames will no longer have their phone numbers displayed when messaging a person or business for the first time, provided they have enabled the feature.

WhatsApp said users can reserve a username by updating to the latest version of the app and navigating to Settings > Account > Username. The feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, with eligible users receiving in-app notifications as it becomes available in their countries.

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