WhatsApp is about to introduce username reservations on Android

WhatsApp is about to introduce username reservations on Android

WhatsApp is transitioning from phone number-based identification to username registration, aligning its privacy standards with competitors like Telegram. This shift allows users to control their digital identity and enhances privacy by reducing the need to share personal contact details. For the open data community, this move highlights a growing industry trend toward decentralized identity management. It demonstrates how major platforms are addressing user concerns about data exposure, encouraging broader adoption of privacy-preserving communication protocols. This development underscores the increasing importance of non-PII identifiers in social infrastructure. By decoupling identity from personal phone numbers, WhatsApp sets a precedent for future interoperability and user-centric data design in global messaging ecosystems.

Source: gsmarena.com
Published on 2025-10-07