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Summary
- Latest WhatsApp beta introduces a username reservation feature
- Users can secure a username ahead of a new identification rollout
- Phone numbers will no longer be publicly visible
WhatsApp is currently developing a feature that enables users to reserve a username, shifting the platform’s identification mechanism.
Traditionally, WhatsApp has relied on phone numbers as the main identifiers, but significant changes are on the horizon.
According to Wabetainfo, a site known for exploring Meta’s messaging platform’s inner workings, details have emerged regarding this new feature in the WhatsApp beta version 2.25.28.12 for Android.
This upcoming function will allow users to claim their usernames in advance of the broader release of the identification system, designed to curb the common issue of username squatting seen across various messaging applications.
Source: Wabetainfo
Advantages of Using a Username
Adopting a username rather than a phone number brings obvious benefits, notably safeguarding your identity from casual acquaintances. It serves as an additional security layer, requiring both your username and a personal key (if set) for others to initiate contact.
Aside from a glimpse of the ‘Reserve username’ option on the WhatsApp Profile page, specific details are limited.
Since this feature has surfaced in the beta phase, a public rollout is likely around the corner, provided there are no major obstacles. Implementing this system should not pose significant challenges.
Once WhatsApp integrates username capabilities into user profiles, it will be catching up to competitors like Signal and Telegram, who have included such features for some time.
This marks a positive shift in WhatsApp’s feature development landscape, especially following recent challenges, including potential advertisement integrations and the unsettling introduction of AI-generated message summaries. Recent announcements from Meta regarding AI monitoring for ad customization across its platforms also include WhatsApp.
