WhatsApp has begun rolling out one of its biggest privacy upgrades yet: a username feature that enables users to connect with people without sharing their phone numbers. Users worldwide can now begin reserving a username ahead of the feature’s full in-app launch later this year.
According to the Meta-owned company, the move is designed to give its more than three billion users a way to stay in touch with new people without handing over personal contact details.
However, the new feature has left many users wondering whether they should choose their real name, a variation of it, or something completely different.
"Do not use your real name as your WhatsApp username. Nor should you keep it the same as your Instagram handle, X handle, or Telegram handle. Even with passkeys, don’t do it. Thank me later," one user wrote on X.
