PARIS: The hundreds of millions who use Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp to chat with family, friends or businesses will no longer need to share phone numbers under an upcoming update, the company said on Monday.
Instead, people will be able to choose unique usernames to share with others, in a move “designed to protect the privacy of your phone number,” WhatsApp said in a statement.
Limiting access to phone numbers would mean that they are not shared automatically in cases such as being added to a large group chat or messaging a person or company for the first time, the company added.
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 – Meta claims over three billion – using WhatsApp means that many may not get their first choice of handle.
The company said it would gradually roll out username reservations worldwide “over the coming months” and notify users in each country when they open there.
Meanwhile, “creators, small businesses and organizations” will be allowed to claim WhatsApp usernames they already use on other Meta products Facebook or Instagram.
