WhatsApp is finally getting usernames

WhatsApp is gearing up to launch a long-awaited feature: usernames. With usernames, users will be able to connect with others without sharing their actual phone number. Spotted by WABetaInfo (via Tecnoblog) in a recent TestFlight beta version of the app, this under-development feature will finally allow users to pick a unique handle. Yes, just like on Telegram, Signal, and most other modern messaging platforms. While the feature isn’t live yet, even for beta testers, WABetaInfo found strings that seem to confirm that WhatsApp is actively building out the interface and rules around the new username system. How is it going to work? The system seems to be designed specifically with phone number privacy in mind. So, once it goes live, users who reach out to you without having your number will see your username by default. Current rules for usernames include: “Usernames cannot begin with “www.” as this could mislead users into thinking they are interacting with an official website ent ... Read full article.