WhatsApp is gearing up to launch a long-awaited feature: usernames.
With usernames, users will be able to connect with others without sharing their actual phone number.
Current rules for usernames include: “Usernames cannot begin with “www.” as this could mislead users into thinking they are interacting with an official website entity.
Usernames must include at least one letter, which prevents the use of usernames made up only of numbers or symbols.
This will help maintain a clean and predictable structure across all usernames.” Once a valid username is chosen, WhatsApp will confirm it with a cheerful confetti animation.
WhatsApp is getting ready to introduce usernames, a long-awaited feature. Users will be able to communicate with others using usernames without disclosing their real phone number.
This feature is still in development, but it will eventually let users choose a unique handle, as WABetaInfo (via Tecnoblog) discovered in a recent TestFlight beta version of the app. Indeed, much like on Signal, Telegram, and the majority of other contemporary messaging apps.
Even for beta testers, the feature isn’t yet live, but WABetaInfo discovered strings that appear to support WhatsApp’s ongoing development of the rules and interface for the new username system.
How will it function?
The privacy of phone numbers appears to have been a key consideration in the system’s design. As a result, when it goes live, users who contact you without your phone number will automatically see your username.
These are the current guidelines for usernames.
User names can’t start with “www.”. because doing so can give the impression that users are communicating with an official website entity. Using usernames composed solely of numbers or symbols is prohibited because usernames must contain at least one letter. Numbers 0–9, underscores, periods, and lowercase letters (a–z) are the only characters that are permitted. All usernames will benefit from having a clear and consistent structure thanks to this. “.”.
WhatsApp will display a happy confetti animation to confirm that the username is valid. The username will then appear in group chats and conversations where the user’s phone number would have been displayed otherwise.
Changing a username will also alert other users.
Like it currently does with profile photo or phone number changes, WhatsApp intends to send a system message into chats if you change your username later to inform other users of the change.
The web version of WhatsApp will soon be updated to let users see if a desired username is still available.
When will it arrive?
