WhatsApp is officially rolling out a username reservation feature that allows users to communicate without exposing their personal phone numbers. This privacy-focused update, currently being released in stages, enables individuals to choose a unique identifier, making it easier to connect with new contacts while keeping sensitive contact information secure. To check if the feature is available for your account, navigate to Settings > Account > Username within the latest version of the app.
While the name reservation process is underway for some users, the full public launch of anonymous messaging via usernames is expected later this year. This shift brings WhatsApp closer to the privacy standards of competitors like Telegram and Signal, offering a layer of abstraction that is particularly useful for business interactions and large group chats where full privacy is preferred.
