WhatsApp until now relies on phone numbers as an identity identifier to allow you to register, or communicate with each other. However, this is expected to change soon.
Starting today, WhatsApp has started allowing users around the world to choose and start booking their own unique and different usernames. Users can go to the Settings > Account > Username page starting today on the WhatsApp application, and then make a selection for a username.
From our experiments, WhatsApp seems to prioritize users to link their WhatsApp account to an Instagram or Facebook account, and use the same username as other Meta accounts first. If not, then you can choose a different username using WhatsApp.
This feature is still based on user choice, and you can also choose not to add it. But if you add it, then later you can also connect with others using this username. In an effort to provide privacy to users, you can also set it so that only a friend who has a special key can connect with you, in addition to knowing your WhatsApp username.
WhatsApp has over 3 billion users, and the username reservation process will take place over several months, before the feature is activated and rolled out globally. For those of you who use WhatsApp regularly, you can start reserving your username today via the WhatsApp app, by going to Settings > Account > Username.
