en.Wedoany.com Reported - WhatsApp is set to introduce a username feature, allowing users to replace phone numbers with usernames for contact to enhance privacy protection. Meta has announced this plan, but the feature is not yet active, and a global rollout will take several months.

Users can now reserve their desired usernames, as the reservation process has begun. Usernames must be unique, between 3 and 35 characters long, and can include lowercase letters, numbers, underscores, and periods, but cannot consist solely of numbers. Meta states that it does not accept "restricted words or expressions," though it has not specified which ones. If the original holder changes or deletes their account, the username will become available again after 14 days. Meta has not disclosed whether it will limit the number of times users can change their usernames, but acknowledges that such a limit may exist.

The introduction of usernames also brings risks. Meta promises to implement authorization keys when someone contacts a user via username for the first time. Some are concerned that the existence of unverified identifiers could facilitate impersonation. The company assures that it will not allow anyone to reserve names associated with well-known public figures, but has not specified the mechanism to prevent less obvious impersonation attempts. The feature has sparked resistance in some markets. According to Reuters, the Indian government has asked Meta to suspend the rollout of usernames in the country until it receives more assurances on how to handle the increased risk of fraud. India is WhatsApp's largest market, with over 500 million users.

Currently, reservations can only be made through the WhatsApp mobile app. Users can navigate to "Settings," "Account," and "Username" within the app, then follow the prompts to create a username or use one associated with other Meta app accounts.