WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has launched a new feature allowing users to reserve and use usernames on the platform. This move aims to provide an alternative to sharing personal phone numbers, offering greater privacy control.

The new usernames can be between three and thirty-five characters long, with no restrictions other than adherence to company policies. Celebrities, VIPs, and organizations are also allowed to claim specific usernames for their profiles.

Users will receive a notification when the username reservation option is available in their country before they can select one via Settings > Account > Username. A unique key will be required for others to send messages directly to that username.

Maintaining privacy and avoiding duplicate usernames are cited as reasons behind this rollout, which comes after years of development by WhatsApp. Other messaging apps like Telegram, Signal, and Wire have had similar features for some time now but, until recently, WhatsApp users were limited to sharing their phone numbers.

While this new feature is a step towards greater privacy in communication, it remains to be seen if usernames will truly replace phone numbers as the primary identifier on platforms like WhatsApp.