WhatsApp is reportedly rolling out a new username feature to a limited number of users on Android and iOS.
With this update, users will be able to connect and chat without sharing their phone numbers.
As the update suggests, users can now create a username that others can search for and use to start conversations.
The new feature can be set through profile settings, where eligible users will see a new option. Once created, the username becomes linked to the account and can be shared instead of a phone number.
Keep in mind that usernames must be between 3 and 35 characters, include at least one letter, and can only use lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. Usernames cannot start with “www.” or end with domain-like terms such as “.com”.
The company is also requiring usernames to be available across its platforms. If a username is already used on Instagram or Facebook, users may need to verify ownership through Meta’s Accounts Center before using it on WhatsApp.
For added privacy, users can set an optional username key. This is a four-digit code that must be entered along with the username before someone can send a message for the first time.
Also, messages sent using usernames remain protected by end-to-end encryption.
Notably, this feature was first reported by WABetaInfo last year, but it was not yet available for testing at the time.
As of now, neither WhatsApp nor Meta has officially announced its availability, so stay tuned for further updates.
What do you think of this update?
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