WhatsApp To Start Usernames For Individual Identification

WhatsApp apparently wants to say goodbye to the concept of using the phone number as the only way of user identification. In a new pre-release, references to the introduction of individual usernames have surfaced.

As WABetaInfo noted, the latest beta version of WhatsApp has a new field in the profile information area where you can enter a custom username. WhatsApp is following the example of various other messaging services in using individual user names more often. Most recently, Discord started a corresponding change.

At the same time, the introduction of clear, unique usernames on WhatsApp opens up the possibility of finding other users more easily. In addition, the privacy of individual users should be improved somewhat, after all, the service becomes more anonymous in this way.

Encryption also works using usernames

The introduction of individual user names apparently does not change the secure communication with WhatsApp via encryption. The sending of encrypted messages should continue to work with the new name system.

It is still unclear when WhatsApp or its parent company Meta will officially present the new naming system. There will probably also be a beta test first before starting a broad rollout in the stable versions of the app for the various platforms.

WhatsApp introduced another long-awaited feature just a few days ago. Messages that have been sent can be edited again within 15 minutes, and they are then also marked accordingly. The so-called chat lock, which can be used to lock certain conversations or group chats with a password lock or a fingerprint, had only recently been integrated.