PARIS (Kashmir English): The hundreds of millions who use Meta-owned WhatsApp messenger to chat with friends, family, or businesses will no longer need to share phone numbers under an upcoming update, the company said on Monday.
Instead, users will be able to pick unique usernames to share with others, in a move “designed to protect the privacy of your phone number,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
According to the company, restricting access to phone numbers would mean they are not shared automatically in cases such as being added to a large group chat or messaging a person or business for the first time.
WhatsApp statement
What’s more, “there’s no directory to browse and no suggestions, so people need to know your exact username to contact you,” Meta said.
As with other social media services, the sheer number of people —over three billion as per Meta claims — using WhatsApp means many may not get their first choice of handle.
Meta said it would gradually roll out username reservations globally “over the coming months”, notifying users in each country when they open there.
Meanwhile, “creators, small businesses and organisations” will be allowed to claim WhatsApp usernames that they already use on fellow Meta products Instagram or Facebook.
