• 2 min read
WhatsApp Starts Enabling Usernames for Messaging
WhatsApp has begun rolling out usernames, letting some users message without sharing a phone number.
Image: MacRumors
WhatsApp has started rolling out its new username feature, according to WABetaInfo, giving some users a way to send and receive messages without exposing their phone number.
The rollout appears to have reached people who previously reserved a username. Those users are now receiving a notification that their username is active and ready to use.
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When someone creates a username, WhatsApp will notify people who already have an active chat with that person. At the same time, the company is limiting how usernames can be found: there is no directory of usernames to browse and no discovery suggestions, so anyone who wants to start a conversation will need to know the other person’s exact username.
The feature marks a notable shift for WhatsApp, which has long relied on phone numbers as the primary identifier for accounts. Usernames instead let people connect without exchanging that personal information.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via MacRumors
