A small revolution is brewing for WhatsApp users, or rather, a feature so basic that one wonders why it took so long to appear. The instant messaging giant, which has more than 3 billion active users each month, is finally preparing to introduce usernames.
What will a WhatsApp username be used for?
Currently, it is necessary to use your phone number to chat on WhatsApp. Practical, certainly, but not ideal for discretion, especially when you are added to groups with strangers or simply want to communicate without revealing this personal information. For at least two years, Meta has been trying to introduce a new option and the WABetaInfo website, as is often the case, has spotted a change in beta version 25.17.10.70 of the application on iOS.
With this feature, in development for several months, it becomes possible to opt for a unique pseudonym. It must only consist of lowercase letters (a to z), numbers (0 to 9), periods and underscores (_). This username must be between 3 and 30 characters long and contain at least one letter.
A crucial point for security, it cannot begin with "www." or end with a domain name like ".com," to avoid phishing attempts. Of course, a username that's already taken won't be available. If you decide to change your alias, your contacts will be notified by a notification in the conversation, to avoid misunderstandings.
(Relative) anonymity in the spotlight
The main benefit of this development is the ability to hide your phone number. A considerable step forward for those who are fed up with unwanted solicitations or scam messages after sharing their number too visibly. By choosing a username, you'll have more control over who can access your direct line. WhatsApp would finally be catching up with competitors like Telegram or Signal, where usernames have long been commonplace.
Other improvements are also reportedly in the pipeline, such as a search bar to find contacts by their username and, potentially, an option to connect via this username rather than the number. To prevent potential abuses related to this new form of identification, Meta is even considering a PIN system: even if they know your username, a stranger won't be able to contact you without this key, which you would only share with your trusted contacts.
It's important to note that adopting a username would remain optional. Those who prefer to continue with their number will be able to do so.
For now, all of this is still in the development phase and not available, even for beta testers. No official launch date has been announced. However, the proliferation of clues in the application's code suggests an arrival that, we hope, will not be too long in coming.
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