WhatsApp has begun enabling username reservation for its more than 3 billion users. The functionality will allow you to start conversations without having to previously share the phone number and represents one of the biggest changes introduced in the application since its launch in 2009.
The Meta-owned platform will gradually open the booking process before rolling out the feature generally later this year. Users will be able to choose unique identifiers of between three and 35 characters, as long as they comply with company policies.
The phone will continue to be required to create and maintain a WhatsApp account. However, when a person activates a username, contacts they chat with for the first time will not see their number, unless they already have it saved in their phonebook.
Since its creation, the identity of users has been linked to the phone number
“When you meet someone new, whether it’s a classmate, a neighbor, or a person you meet at an event, sharing your phone number can seem like an important step.”explained Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President and Product Manager of WhatsApp. “Usernames are designed to give you control over who can see your number in the first place.”
The measure modifies one of the historical foundations of WhatsApp. Since its creation by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, the identity of users has been linked to the telephone number, a structure that made it easier to find contacts from the phonebook, but also required the disclosure of personal information to start any conversation.
Usernames will not create a public directory within WhatsApp. The app will not allow you to browse a list of profiles or suggest results while a person is typing. But to start a conversation it will be necessary to know the exact identifier. With this, WhatsApp seeks to prevent the new function from facilitating the massive location of people or the indiscriminate reception of messages.
The platform will also incorporate an optional key associated with the username. It will be a four-digit code that the owner can require before an unknown person sends him a message. In this way, to establish the first contact it will not be enough to know the username: it will also be necessary to have the corresponding password. The user can deactivate this additional layer or modify both the identifier and the code.
WhatsApp will apply limits to password attempts to prevent combinations from being tried repeatedly. It will also use automated systems to restrict the number of new contacts an account can write to, a measure aimed at reducing spam and abuse.
Meta reserve Facebook and Instagram names
Before completely opening the system, Meta has reserved certain identifiers to prevent impersonations and disputes. Names used by public figures, celebrities, government agencies and organizations of particular relevance will remain protected, along with variants that may cause confusion.
People, creators and companies that already have a Facebook or Instagram handle will be able to claim that same name for WhatsApp during the reservation period. The measure seeks to facilitate a consistent identity between Meta applications. This continuity is especially relevant for small businesses, professionals and creators who use social platforms as the main channels of visibility and customer service.
Users will be notified when the feature is available in their country.
With more than 3,000 million users, the company considers it necessary to anticipate possible overlaps. Early booking will allow claims to be sorted before the username becomes part of the overall app experience.
Users will be notified when the feature is available in their country. The process will be carried out from the configuration section, within the account and username options.
A new digital asset for companies
Beyond privacy, the change will have commercial implications. Companies that use WhatsApp to receive reservations, resolve incidents, manage orders or attract customers will be able to replace the public display of a number with a brand identifier.
“We think companies will be excited about this”noted Alice Newton-Rex. “When I travel around the world, I see businesses that write their phone numbers in their windows or on advertisements. Now they will be able to simply write their username.”
The identifier can thus acquire a function similar to that of a web address, an Instagram account or a customer service email. Its brevity, recognition and coherence with the rest of the brand profiles will influence the ease with which consumers can remember and use it.
This dimension introduces a new race for identifiers, especially for businesses with generic names, local brands or companies that do not have the same name on all platforms.
“Usernames have been a recurring request for a long time”said Alice Newton-Rex. “I’m excited to finally start bringing them to people around the world.”
The rollout will be gradual and early reservation does not mean that the feature can be used immediately in all markets. WhatsApp will inform each user when they can claim their identifier and when they can start conversations using it.
