WhatsApp, the world’s most popular messaging platform, is preparing to make a major shift in how users connect — moving beyond phone numbers as the primary identifier. According to reports from 9to5Mac, the Meta-owned app is testing a new feature that lets users create unique @usernames, signaling a fundamental change in its user experience and privacy model.
This feature was spotted in the Android beta version 2.25.28.12 and is seen as a move to enhance user privacy and streamline how people connect. Currently, WhatsApp requires users to share their personal phone numbers in order to start a conversation — a system that has raised long-standing privacy concerns, especially in professional or group settings.
By introducing usernames, WhatsApp is aligning itself more closely with platforms like Telegram and Signal, which already offer similar privacy-focused options. With this update, users could message or be found via a public username instead of their phone number, providing more control over who can see their personal contact information.
For WhatsApp's 3+ billion users, this change could open the door to safer and more flexible interactions — particularly in communities, business communications, or public groups — while preserving the encrypted, secure messaging experience the app is known for.
