Kunal Shah announces WhatsApp usernames as platform moves beyond phone numbers

WhatsApp is taking one of its biggest identity shifts in years.The Meta-owned messaging platform is introducing usernames, allowing users to connect without sharing their phone numbers — a move that reflects changing expectations around online privacy while positioning WhatsApp more competitively against platforms such as Telegram and Signal.The rollout begins with an early reservation system, giving users the opportunity to secure their preferred usernames before the feature launches globally over the coming months. The announcement was accompanied by a social media post from WhatsApp chief Kunal Shah, who urged users to "get yours," describing usernames as "a more private way to connect."For more than a decade, WhatsApp's identity system has revolved around a simple premise: your phone number is your digital identity. That approach helped fuel trust and simplicity as the service scaled to more than three billion users. But it also created friction in an era where consumers increasingly want greater control over who can access their personal information.Also read: Meta says AI era drove choice of Kunal Shah as next WhatsApp chief; links CRED investment to leadership transition"When someone new walks into your life... sharing a phone number can feel like a big step," WhatsApp said in a blog post announcing the feature. "Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits."The company believes usernames solve that problem.Once the feature becomes available, users who enable a username will no longer reveal their phone number when messaging a person or business for the first time. Instead, contacts will connect using a chosen username, adding a layer of privacy that has long been requested by users participating in community groups, neighbourhood forums, hobby clubs and other large conversations.The timing is notable. As messaging platforms evolve into broader digital ecosystems encompassing commerce, payments, communities and AI-powered interactions, identity management has become increasingly important. WhatsApp's move brings it closer to rivals that have long offered username-based communication, while retaining its core emphasis on private, end-to-end encrypted messaging.Read more: Who Is Kunal Shah?: Meet the Indian founder Mark Zuckerberg picked to lead Meta's biggest app - WhatsAppThe company is also taking an unusually cautious approach to discovery.Unlike social platforms that encourage people to search for and follow users, WhatsApp says there will be no public directory, searchable database or username suggestions. Instead, someone will need to know a user's exact username to initiate contact. Users can also enable an optional username key, adding another verification layer before someone can send them a message.That design underscores WhatsApp's broader positioning around privacy rather than discoverability.The feature also reflects WhatsApp's growing ambitions beyond person-to-person messaging. Creators, businesses and organisations will be able to reserve the same usernames they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta's family of apps.For users struggling to find an available name, WhatsApp has built a username generator to suggest unique alternatives — a practical necessity given its more than three billion global users and the inevitable competition for popular handles.Username reservations begin this week through the latest version of WhatsApp under Settings > Account > Username. The company said the feature will roll out gradually across countries over the coming months, with users receiving an in-app notification once it becomes available in their region.For WhatsApp, the introduction of usernames is more than a convenience feature. It marks a subtle but significant rethinking of digital identity — one that places greater distance between a person's real-world phone number and their online conversations, while reinforcing privacy as the platform's defining competitive advantage.Read more: Meta-CRED deal includes $100 million in ad creditsAlso read: India Gave WhatsApp Everything. WhatsApp Built Nothing.