WhatsApp is introducing one of the most significant changes in its 16-year history – usernames that allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. The move, announced by Meta, is designed to strengthen privacy for the platform’s more than three billion users, but it has also triggered concerns about impersonation, scams, and digital identity protection.
For years, WhatsApp identities have been tied directly to phone numbers. Anyone added to a group or contacted by a stranger often had to reveal their number, creating privacy concerns for journalists, activists, business owners, and ordinary users. The new username system aims to address that issue by allowing users to create unique handles through which they can communicate without exposing their personal contact details.
According to WhatsApp, usernames will be between three and 35 characters long, and there will be no public directory for searching users. Instead, people will need to know a user’s exact username to initiate contact. The company has also introduced optional security features, including username keys, designed to provide additional protection against unwanted messages.
Meta has presented the development as a major privacy upgrade.
“Your phone number is personal, and sometimes you want to connect without handing it over. That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp,” the company said when announcing the feature.
The change brings WhatsApp closer to platforms such as Telegram and Signal, which already allow communication through usernames rather than phone numbers. However, that comparison has also fuelled concerns among technology experts and entrepreneurs who warn that anonymity can sometimes make fraud easier.
Among the most vocal critics has been Indian entrepreneur and author Ankur Warikoo, who warned that the feature could unintentionally create opportunities for impersonation scams.
“In a country such as India, this could be a disaster if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp. Imagine receiving a message from warikoo / awarikoo / ankurwarikooo / ankur_warikoo / a_warikoo / ankurwarikooofficial etc etc – soliciting money.”
Warikoo argued that many users may struggle to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent accounts, especially when scammers create usernames that closely resemble those of public figures or businesses. He also noted that the disappearance of visible phone numbers removes a layer of verification that many users rely on when assessing the legitimacy of a message.
Similar concerns were raised by Vijay Shekhar Sharma, who warned that verified accounts could be surrounded by nearly identical fake profiles.
“Soon you will have verified username on WhatsApp, and then unverified similar-sounding usernames…”
Cybersecurity specialists say these concerns are not unfounded. Impersonation scams have become increasingly sophisticated across social media platforms, often using copied profile photos, slight spelling variations, and fake verification cues to deceive users. The introduction of usernames may reduce exposure of personal phone numbers, but it also creates new challenges around identity verification.
WhatsApp insists it has anticipated these risks. The company says high-profile usernames for celebrities, politicians, and public figures are being reserved to reduce the possibility of impersonation. In addition, usernames will not be searchable, a key distinction from Telegram’s model, and optional security controls will limit unsolicited contact.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s Vice President of Product, described the feature as a privacy-focused enhancement intended to give users greater control over how they interact on the platform. The company maintains that end-to-end encryption remains unchanged and that messages, calls, photos, and videos will continue to be protected.
