WhatsApp introduces usernames, allowing users to chat without sharing phone numbers; Telegram reacts

WhatsApp has begun rolling out one of its most anticipated privacy features, allowing users to reserve unique usernames that can eventually replace phone numbers when starting new conversations. The feature is being introduced gradually, with reservations opening first and the broader rollout scheduled over the coming months before becoming widely available later this year.

The Meta-owned messaging platform says the change is designed to make connecting with new people less intrusive. "That's why we're introducing usernames for WhatsApp. Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature. With over three billion people on WhatsApp a lot of names overlap, which is why we're opening reservations early so everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them," the blog post read.

Users can reserve an optional username by navigating to Settings > Account > Username on the latest version of WhatsApp. The company is opening reservations early because, “with over three billion people on WhatsApp a lot of names overlap,” giving users time to claim the username they want before the feature becomes widely available.

WhatsApp has also built several privacy safeguards into the feature. Usernames will not be publicly searchable, meaning people must know a user’s exact username before initiating a conversation. Existing contacts and members of group chats who already have access to a user’s phone number will continue to see it, with the added privacy applying only to new chats started through usernames. The platform is also introducing an optional Username Key, providing an additional layer of protection by requiring new contacts to know both the username and the key before they can send a message.

For creators, businesses and organisations, WhatsApp will also allow eligible users to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook usernames to maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.

While users rejoice this privacy upgrade, questions about how to identify scammers exist. To this, WhatsApp, in a reply on X (formerly Twitter) responded, "we've put multiple layers of defense in place: username keys limit who can reach you, we limit how many new people any account can contact, and our systems detect and block abuse patterns. if something feels off, report it in the app."

Questions remain over WhatsApp Payments

While usernames could fundamentally change how people connect on WhatsApp, the company has not clarified how the feature will interact with WhatsApp Payments in India. The service currently operates on the UPI framework, where users authenticate through bank-linked mobile numbers, although payments themselves can also be made using UPI IDs. Meta has not said whether usernames will eventually serve as a payment identifier, remain exclusive to messaging, or coexist alongside existing phone number and UPI ID-based payment flows. That clarification will be important as the feature rolls out more broadly in one of WhatsApp’s largest markets.

Telegram responds to WhatsApp's new update

In the light of the news, Telegram, replied to Kunal Shah's X post, saying, "October 2014, is that you?", while linking its blog post about the same update that was rolled out 12 years ago.

"From now on, you can choose a public username in the Settings section of Telegram. If you do, anyone will be able to find you by your username and contact you – without having to know your phone number.

To find people by username, just start typing any name in the search field of the Contacts section. Once entered at least 5 characters, you will see the Global Search section in your search results. This list contains people with corresponding usernames," Telegram's old blog read.

Through this response, the app took a dig at WhatsApp's late roll out of this privacy update.