What you need to know
- WhatsApp announced the beginning of its global username reservation period for the platform.
- Users can begin reserving their desired username this week on WhatsApp, which lets them share this instead of their phone number for added privacy.
- Small business owners and content creators can “claim” their usernames from Facebook or Instagram and port it into WhatsApp.
In the name of privacy, WhatsApp is rolling out username reservations, and this is how you can get started.
Today (June 29), WhatsApp announced that its “introducing usernames” to the platform this week. Users can keep their phone numbers to themselves and instead put their chosen username front and center. What’s more, WhatsApp is adding a “key” to help users “control who contacts you by your username.” To avoid overlap, the messaging platform is kicking things off with a reservation period before the username feature launches officially “later this year.”
What’s rolling out is a new Username option in your WhatsApp account settings (Settings > Account > Username). Tapping that will give an initial splash screen and a button to create one. The system will check to make sure your username hasn’t already been taken. If it has, you’ll need to create a new one. Additionally, the secondary level of security is the “key.”
If you specify that only people with your key can contact you, WhatsApp will generate a unique string of numbers for you. However, you must share your username and this generated key before someone can start texting or calling you.
WhatsApp states that there is no “registry” or suggestions for usernames. People must know your name (and key, if you’ve chosen that) before they can contact you. For content creators and businesses on Facebook or Instagram, users can “claim” their username and transfer it to WhatsApp.
Reserved under…?
WhatsApp states usernames are rolling out “gradually over the coming months.” The app will inform you when you can begin doing so in your country.
We’ve been hearing about usernames on WhatsApp for a while now. The messaging platform rolled out a few contact-focused features a while ago. The main goal was to give users the option to save contacts from WhatsApp web and Windows devices. It gave more flexibility when interacting with contacts, as the only way you could do so prior was on your primary phone.
However, the platform said this was done to begin setting the framework for usernames in the future. This would be that future. Global reservations for usernames are beginning this week, so users should start thinking ahead of time and get to it ASAP.
Android Central’s Take
Usernames are simple. If you grew up playing multiplayer games, you’d know the feeling. They represent who you are (in a way), and are like fun codenames when you’re playing games. The thing about phone numbers is that they’re so personal. They literally connect you with someone else. If someone has it, they knew exactly how to reach you. Not everyone’s ready for that kind of commitment, and I think usernames can solve that.