WhatsApp Now Lets You Reserve a Username

[MacRumors]

Popular messaging app WhatsApp is now allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of plans to launch username-based messaging. Right now, WhatsApp uses a person's phone number as an identifier, but usernames will allow people to interact without having to exchange personal information.

Username reservations are rolling out starting this week, and not all users will have access to the reservation system right away. WhatsApp is sending a notification when a username can be reserved. Usernames are optional, and once access has been granted, a username can be selected by going to Settings > Account > Username. Usernames can be 3 to 35 characters in length.

There are over three billion people on WhatsApp, and the company says it is opening up reservations early so "everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them." WhatsApp suggests users choose a unique name only contacts would know.

Creators, small businesses, and organizations have the option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp. Users who have a username on Instagram or Facebook can claim the same username on WhatsApp by choosing the Use Instagram username or Use Facebook username option, as long as it isn't already taken.

WhatsApp has no directory of usernames to browse, and no username discovery suggestions. People will need to know a WhatsApp user's exact username to send a message, plus there is an optional username key that adds extra spam protection.

Usernames will roll out gradually over the next few months. Once live, an account with a username set will no longer reveal a phone number when messaging a person or a business for the first time.

Article Link: WhatsApp Now Lets You Reserve a Username

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

came in too late. damn. my name isn't even common

 

[ResolutionNZ]

Thanks for the heads up. Got my business name via WA business. Username isn't an option for me yet on regular whatsapp.

 

[TheDailyApple]

@bob is taken. Darn it.

 

[RumorConsumer]

where the heck is it? im on the mobile iOS app, my last update was 2 days ago and I cant see any options to get a username.

 

[CDPlayer]

I haven’t used Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, or any social media in years and don’t intend to. My friends and family are a phone call or drive away (and flight).

So, no thanks, Mark. Enjoy your $300 million yacht, estates, and bunker. I’m not putting a cent in your wallet nor Musk nor Bezos. I’m disconnecting to reconnect and life is richer for it.

 

[benface]

where the heck is it? im on the mobile iOS app, my last update was 2 days ago and I cant see any options to get a username.

Same. Also not on the macOS app. Maybe only available to the U.S. for now? Companies tend to forget to mention that sometimes and it's so dumb and annoying.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Same. Also not on the macOS app. Maybe only available to the U.S. for now? Companies tend to forget to mention that sometimes and it's so dumb and annoying.

Im in US.

 

[benface]

Im in US.

Then you are part of the problem.

(jk haha)

 

[UliBaer]

It is also available here in Germany, but guess what, *all* matching names are already taken - bummer! 🤣

[edit] ...and of course no Umlauts (äöüß), no special characters, only US-Ascii, numbers and "_" allowed - lame!
[edit2] Seems the developers never heard of Unicode or UTF-8, what a bunch of cretins.

 

[klasma]

Dammit.

 

[CarAnalogy]

It is also available here in Germany, but guess what, *all* matching names are already taken - bummer! 🤣

[edit] ...and of course no Umlauts (äöüß), no special characters, only US-Ascii, numbers and "_" allowed - lame!
[edit2] Seems the developers never heard of Unicode or UTF-8, what a bunch of cretins.

That was fast. This was my first thought. Every single username a European might want will be taken within seconds.

They might as well have done the same as other apps do and just generate you an ID and let you nickname it what you want.

 

[CarAnalogy]

View attachment 2641955
Dammit.

Did you try pressing "suggest a username" and suggesting that the username username be available?

 

[klasma]

Did you try pressing "suggest a username" and suggesting that the username username be available?

It suggests Username1876.

 

[McScooby]

It suggests Username1876.

Ketchuptastic.

 

[contacos]

Damn my name was already taken

 

[jennyp]

I asked WhatsApp's FAQ;

"If my username corresponds with my real name, it is possible for someone to guess it and initiate a phone call to me (not a chat, but a phone call)?"

It responded:

"Yes, it is possible. A username allows someone to find you and start a chat without your phone number. Once a chat is initiated, the person can use the call button within that chat to start a voice or video call. If your username is easy to guess because it matches your real name, someone could potentially find you and initiate a call this way."

So, maybe best not to use your real name or its obvious variant.

It seems to me that, otherwise, the scam potential moves from information-free random phone numbers to a chunk of information that might reasonably be supposed to have some meaning for the person to be spammed, making credible scamming more likely, not less.

 

[Spinnetti]

I don't see it on either the MacOS app or the iOS app 🙁

 

[CarAnalogy]

It suggests Username1876.

My joke may not have parsed the way I intended. It was always a long shot.

When I saw the screenshot, my intrusive comedic brain said "suggest a username? oh good I can talk to the manager and suggest to them that I get the username I want!"

Needs more work.

 

[Doug.J]

I was able to get first name initial "." last name. That's pretty good nowadays.

 

[ipedro]

I was able to get first name initial "." last name. That's pretty good nowadays.

D.Jay is a pretty cool username. 🎧😅

 

[maxsmacs]

Anyway to force the menu to appear?

 

[DeanCorp]

Thanks for the heads up. Got my business name via WA business. Username isn't an option for me yet on regular whatsapp.

Trying to work out if I want to reserve my business name or a username for my own personal number since I don’t want people looking up my business name and then being able to text me all the time

 

[mansplains]

I haven’t used Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, or any social media in years and don’t intend to. My friends and family are a phone call or drive away (and flight).

So, no thanks, Mark. Enjoy your $300 million yacht, estates, and bunker. I’m not putting a cent in your wallet nor Musk nor Bezos. I’m disconnecting to reconnect and life is richer for it.

Thanks for your contribution!

 

[applefan8254]

Will we be able to edit our username if we decide we want to change/edit it?