WhatsApp has announced the start of global reservations of usernames, a major privacy feature designed to protect the privacy of your phone number. A username is a way for you to connect with someone on WhatsApp without giving away your phone number.
You choose your own, and it doesn't have to match your handle on any other app. At its core, it's a privacy feature, not a social media handle — there's no directory to browse and no suggestions, so people need to know your exact username to contact you with your username for the first time.
How it Works:
Usernames reservations will begin rolling out today, allowing people to create and reserve a username before the feature is available in-app later this year. Once reservations become available, users will be notified in the app.
For most people, choosing a WhatsApp username should be something unique that only people you want to contact you will know.
You can also set up a username key for an extra layer of protection. Someone will need it the first time they contact you, adding one more layer of protection for your account.