WhatsApp’s move to allow people to shift from phone numbers to unique usernames raises an obvious question: should you adopt one? Social media users are divided on whether this transition will enhance their privacy, or compromise it. The answer might depend on who you are and how you use WhatsApp. The move also raises broader questions like whether people would align their Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp identities, and what that could mean for privacy. While the government is examining whether it would lead to heightened impersonation and risks of cybercrime, here’s an attempt by ET to answer some of the questions users might have…
I’m a public figure and my username is easy to guess. Can random unwanted people message me?
Yes, potentially. If someone can guess your exact username, they can initiate a conversation. Meta has said there will be no public directory or username search, so people must know your exact username. Meta has also held back names of high-profile public figures and their lookalike derivatives. However, if you choose a simple username like @RohitSharma, it could easily spread online.
Public figures, journalists, politicians and founders should enable the optional username key (PIN) and use verified accounts, or simply stick to phone numbers.
I want new people to contact me for professional needs. But they don’t know my username or key. How will they reach me?
Switching to username creates a challenge in discoverability, particularly if the username is not easy to guess. Recruiters, prospective clients, marketing leads, or even new college and workplace contacts may find it harder to initiate conversations.
Professionals who rely on inbound messages may therefore choose not to enable the key.
If I switch to a username, can my bank, airline or food delivery app still reach me?
Yes. If a business already has your phone number on record, it can continue to contact you on WhatsApp using that number. They do not need your username. For new interactions, Meta says businesses will have a “privacy-friendly” way to communicate with users who adopt usernames, but it has not yet explained whether businesses will still receive users’ phone numbers or whether messaging can happen using usernames alone.
If you wish to receive business communication through multiple platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, Google RCS, you can stick to phone numbers.
Can I continue making voice and video calls through WhatsApp?
Yes. Voice and video calls on WhatsApp are account-based, not SIM-based. In effect, usernames turn WhatsApp into something closer to Telegram, Discord or Signal, where the visible identity is a handle rather than a mobile number. Two people using usernames can call each other only on WhatsApp, because they do not share phone numbers. If you wish to make SIM-based calls, you must stick to phone numbers.
A few more practical questions users may ask:
Can someone guess my username?
Yes, if it’s simple. Meta has no public directory, but usernames can still be shared, posted online or guessed.
Can I change my username?
Yes. Meta says it will limit how frequently users can change usernames to reduce abuse.
Will I still need a phone number?
Yes. A phone number is still required to create and recover a WhatsApp account.
Can I hide my phone number completely?
For new conversations, yes. But existing contacts who already have your number will still know it.
Can I protect my phone number in community groups?
Yes, it will be an added privacy advantage if you do not wish to reveal your personal number to hundreds of strangers in college/workplace or society groups. Even for areas like dating or meeting new people, you can chat without exposing your phone number immediately.
How can I identify WhatsApp users from other countries?
Today, one of the easiest ways to identify a suspicious message is by looking at the country code. A foreign country code (+234, +62, +84, etc.) is an immediate red flag. With usernames replacing phone numbers, that visual cue disappears. But Meta says it will display “context cards,” which show signals like – whether the account is new, whether you have mutual groups, and whether the user is based in a different country — when someone messages you for the first time.
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