WhatsApp messaging, owned by the Meta group, will soon allow its users to communicate without sharing their telephone number, by introducing the use of names in a future update, the company announced on Monday.
This development means that phone numbers will no longer be shared automatically when added to group chats or when sending a first message to a person or company, WhatsApp said in a press release.
According to the messaging service, this is a “privacy feature”. In order to contact someone, it will therefore be necessary to know their username, the company explained.
Due to the huge number of registered users, more than 3 billion people claim WhatsApp, many users are expected not to get their first choice of nickname.
The company said it would gradually roll out the reservation of user names starting Monday, and that it would inform users in each affected country gradually. She did not give further details on the timetable.
“Creators, small businesses and organizations” will be able to ask WhatsApp to use the username under which they are registered on the group’s other platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, it is specified.
