WhatsApp, the most-used messaging app on the planet (with more than 3 billion users), has just announced a feature many had been asking for for years: usernames. From now on, you’ll be able to chat with someone without having to give them your phone number.
The new thing is that you can now reserve your username from the app’s settings (Settings > Account > Username). That way you secure the «nick» you want before the rest of the world can. The full feature will roll out over the coming months, and the app will notify you when it’s available in your country. One important detail: if you share a name with a celebrity or politician, they already have their name reserved, so you’ll have to look for an alternative alias.
And how does it work in practice? You won’t be able to search for people by their username like on Instagram: you need to know the exact name of the person you want to contact. Also, if you already have someone’s phone in your contacts, that contact will still see your number even if you activate usernames. For the most cautious, WhatsApp adds an «optional user key» that others will have to know before they can message you, which prevents unwanted messages if someone makes your username public without your permission. In short: more privacy, but with nuances.
— Marta, for intermittent intelligence.
