WhatsApp Username Feature: Meta Clarifies Upcoming Feature Amid Privacy and Safety Concerns
In response to concerns, WhatsApp said users will not be required to create a username. The feature is entirely optional and is intended to provide an additional way for people to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
WhatsApp has clarified that its upcoming Username feature will be optional, privacy-focused and not searchable, following concerns over user safety, impersonation and potential fraud. The clarification comes after the Indian government sought an explanation from Meta over the proposed feature, raising questions about its impact on user privacy and cybersecurity, as reported by TOI.
WhatsApp Says Usernames Are Optional
In response to concerns, WhatsApp said users will not be required to create a username. The feature is entirely optional and is intended to provide an additional way for people to connect without sharing their phone numbers. The company also clarified that existing users can continue using WhatsApp as they do today without adopting usernames. WhatsApp Username Feature: What It Is and How Users Can Chat Without Sharing Phone Numbers.
No Public Directory or Search Function
Addressing concerns over unwanted contact and impersonation, WhatsApp said usernames will not be publicly searchable. Unlike social media platforms, the messaging service will not offer a public directory, username suggestions or profile discovery. Instead, users will need to know a person's exact username before initiating a conversation, a design the company says is intended to strengthen privacy and reduce spam. India Asks Meta to Pause WhatsApp Username Rollout, Seeks Security Details in 3 Day.
Privacy Safeguards Built Into the Feature
WhatsApp said the new system is designed to give users greater control over their personal information by allowing them to connect without revealing their phone numbers to new contacts.
The company also highlighted additional safeguards, including unique usernames and optional privacy protections aimed at preventing misuse and unauthorized contact.
Government Raises Questions
The clarification follows a notice from the Indian government directing Meta to pause the rollout of the feature pending consultations. Authorities have expressed concerns that usernames could be misused for impersonation, cyber fraud and deceptive activities if adequate safeguards are not in place.
The government has asked the company to explain the feature's security framework and address regulatory concerns before any wider rollout in the country.
Rollout Expected Later This Year
WhatsApp has begun allowing some users to reserve unique usernames ahead of a broader rollout planned later in 2026. The feature is expected to provide an alternative to sharing phone numbers, particularly when interacting with businesses or people outside a user's existing contact list.
The company has maintained that privacy remains central to the design of the feature and said it will continue engaging with regulators as the rollout progresses.
The Username feature represents one of WhatsApp's biggest changes to how users connect on the platform. While phone numbers will remain mandatory for account registration, usernames are intended to offer an additional layer of privacy by allowing conversations to begin without exposing a user's mobile number. The proposal has prompted scrutiny from regulators, who are assessing its potential implications for online safety and fraud prevention before its wider introduction.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2026 11:12 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
