WhatsApp is introducing usernames, letting you message people and businesses without handing over your phone number. Meta, which owns the messenger, said the feature is designed to protect the privacy of your number and will roll out gradually worldwide over the coming months.

Your Number Stays Private By Default

Once usernames are live, your phone number will no longer be shared automatically in situations like being added to a large group chat or messaging someone for the first time. Instead, you share a unique username of your choosing, and the other person uses that to reach you.

There is no directory to browse and no suggestions, so someone needs to know your exact username to contact you. For anyone who has been added to a random group and then received unsolicited messages, your number is no longer open to everyone in the room.

How To Reserve Yours Now

Have you thought about what you want your handle to be? With more than three billion people on WhatsApp, not everyone will get their first choice.

Luckily for you, reservations opened this week. So on the latest version of the app, you can go into your account settings and claim a username before the feature goes fully live later this year. 

Creators, small businesses, and organisations can also claim usernames they already use on Facebook or Instagram, keeping their handle consistent across Meta’s apps.

Less Exposure To Scams And Spam

Keeping your number private does more than cut down on spam. In a country where WhatsApp scams are common, your phone number is often the first thing a stranger gets hold of, whether through a leaked group chat or a number list passed around. Usernames remove that automatic exposure, giving you one less detail floating around for someone to misuse. 

Even so, no privacy feature replaces staying alert to who is messaging you. Scammers often pose as banks, government agencies, or trusted brands to get you to click a link or share details, so it helps to rely on sources you know are genuine. If someone contacts you claiming to be us, you can check the number against our official RinggitPlus WhatsApp accounts.

For the latest money news and deals, our WhatsApp channel is the one to follow.

Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

About THE AUTHOR

Iman Aminuddin

Iman Aminuddin

Iman writes about personal finance with curiosity. She is interested in the stories behind money, the hesitation around big decisions, and the small habits that shape financial futures. Off the clock, she is either dissecting a film or climbing her way up the leaderboard in her favourite games.

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