WhatsApp has started allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of the feature’s official rollout later this year.
This introduces a new way for people to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
Usernames will now be optional, meaning users can continue using WhatsApp without creating one if they prefer.
Some users may find that their preferred username is unavailable for several reasons, including where a username cannot be reserved if it is already being used on Instagram or Facebook by its legitimate owner.
If the name belongs to or closely resembles the name of a public figure, celebrity, government entity or a Meta Verified account, or if it has already been claimed by another WhatsApp user.
Key details qof the new WhatsApp username feature
In cases where a preferred name has already been taken, WhatsApp will provide a username generator to suggest alternatives.
Additionally, WhatsApp has put in place measures to reduce impersonation and online scams.
Although usernames are being reserved now, they will not be searchable when the feature launches.
If a user receives a message from someone they have never interacted with before, WhatsApp will display information such as the sender’s country of origin and warn that it is a first-time contact.
To further enhance privacy, WhatsApp is introducing a username key, an optional security feature that requires someone to know both a user’s username and the unique key before they can initiate contact.
This will allow users be able to reset the key at any time, preventing new contacts from reaching them through the old key.Users who want the same username across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook will need to temporarily link their Meta accounts to verify ownership.
After verification, they can unlink the accounts if they wish or choose a username that is unique to WhatsApp.
