The feature aims to enhance the level of privacy. The feature has become available to a limited number of users.

WhatsApp has started rolling out a new feature that users have been waiting for for a long time, allowing the creation of “Usernames” instead of relying on phone numbers for identification and chatting within the application.

This step aims to enhance user privacy and reduce the need to share personal phone numbers, especially when communicating with new people or within different groups.

According to circulating tech reports, the feature is still in a gradual rollout phase and is currently available to a limited number of users on the beta versions of both Android and iOS, with expectations that it will expand more widely in the coming months.

How does the feature work? The new idea allows users to choose a unique username within the app, which becomes the identification method instead of a phone number. This way, anyone can start a conversation with another user using only the username, without needing to know their real phone number.

This feature is very similar to what exists on platforms such as Telegram and Instagram, where users rely on usernames as the primary identity for communication instead of phone numbers.

Reports also indicate that WhatsApp imposes restrictions on creating usernames, such as preventing duplicate names and disallowing formats that may resemble websites, in order to reduce fraud or impersonation attempts.

Enhancing privacy and security This move comes as part of WhatsApp’s ongoing efforts to improve user privacy, amid repeated criticism related to accounts being tied to phone numbers.

The new feature helps reduce the risk of sharing personal numbers with strangers and gives users greater control over their digital identity, especially when interacting in groups or with unknown contacts.

Some reports also suggest that WhatsApp may later introduce an additional security layer, such as a verification code linked to the username, which could further strengthen protection and make account access more secure.

Gradual rollout At this stage, the feature is still in testing and is being rolled out gradually to a limited group of users worldwide. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has not yet announced an official date for a full global release.

However, introducing usernames represents a significant shift in how the app works, as it has relied for years on phone numbers as the primary user identity.

A more private future If fully launched, this feature could significantly change how more than two billion WhatsApp users communicate worldwide, by reducing reliance on phone numbers and strengthening the concept of an alternative digital identity.

Tech experts believe this step could bring WhatsApp closer to modern social media platforms that focus heavily on privacy and offer greater flexibility in choosing digital identities.