The WhatsApp has started to allow users to reserve usernames within the app. The new feature should allow, in the future, a person to be added to the platform without having to share their phone number.
The change, however, generated concern among users on social media. On X, formerly Twitter, some people said they feared that the new form of contact would facilitate unwanted approaches or even scam attempts, as already occurs in other messaging applications.
One of the examples cited was Telegram, where it is possible to search for a username and start a conversation right away. For critics of the new feature, the feature could pose a privacy problem if anyone was able to find profiles just by typing a name.
“WhatsApp usernames should scare anyone,” wrote one user on
Faced with the repercussions, WhatsApp responded to some publications on the social network itself and tried to reassure users. The company stated that there will be no public directory of usernames or profile suggestions during searches within the application.
In practice, this means that, to find someone by username, you will need to know exactly what the person’s chosen identifier is.
According to WhatsApp, the new feature is part of a set of measures to expand privacy options within the application. The company also reinforced that the feature will be optional and that each user will have a unique name.
“Usernames are our latest step to give users more privacy options about how they are represented in the app,” the platform said. “It’s completely optional, and users will have unique usernames, but we know some people want consistency in how they appear across apps.”
WhatsApp also explained that it created protections to prevent the feature from being used by strangers as a simple form of direct contact. One of the measures will be the possibility of activating a type of key associated with the username.
With this protection, a person will only be able to contact you using the username if they also have this key. The company claims this reduces the risk of random approaches.
“There will be no directory to browse or suggestions. If you enable the username key, no one will be able to reach you this way unless they also have this key,” WhatsApp said.
The platform also highlighted that current security rules will continue to apply. When a new person sends a message, the user will be able to see if it is a recent account, if they are in contacts, if they participate in the same groups or if they are in another country.
WhatsApp reinforced that users will continue to have control over adding, blocking or reporting unknown contacts.
Although username reservation is now available, full functionality should only be activated closer to the end of the year.
usernames are our latest step to give our users more private options for how they show up in the app. it’s entirely optional and most users will choose unique usernames, but we’re mindful that some people want consistency in how they show up across apps.
there’s no directory to…
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) June 30, 2026
Source: www.noticiasaominuto.com.br
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