WhatsApp is introducing a username feature for its more than three billion global users, allowing them to connect with others without having to share their phone numbers. The company has described this change as a major privacy upgrade.
Username reservations open starting today, with the feature officially rolling out globally over the next few months and later this year. This update has been in development for several years.
While users will soon have the option to use usernames instead of phone numbers for connecting, a phone number is still required to create an account.