WhatsApp is preparing to roll out one of its most significant privacy updates in the platform's history, allowing users to communicate through unique usernames rather than sharing their phone numbers.
According to Antigua.news, the feature — currently still under development — will allow users to create a unique username that friends, family, and other contacts can use to find and message them, without requiring access to their mobile number.
The update is expected to strengthen privacy protections, particularly for users who regularly communicate with people outside their personal contact lists. This includes those participating in community groups, engaging with businesses, or buying and selling goods through online marketplaces.
Under the planned system, phone numbers will remain tied to WhatsApp accounts for registration and security purposes. However, users will no longer be required to make their numbers visible to everyone they communicate with on the platform.
The move mirrors username-based systems already in place on rival messaging platforms such as Telegram and Signal, where users can maintain a degree of anonymity while remaining easily contactable.
WhatsApp has not announced an official release date for the feature. Reports indicate, however, that it is being actively developed and is expected to become available in a future update.
If introduced as planned, the change would represent one of the platform's most significant privacy enhancements in recent years, giving users greater control over their personal information while allowing them to connect with others more safely online.
