WhatsApp is preparing a new way to log in to your account, without using a phone number, but using unique usernames.
For almost a year, several clues have suggested that WhatsApp is working to develop a major feature. Users would then no longer need to log in to the messaging app using their phone number, but could simply log in using a username.
In May 2023, the site WABetaInfo revealed for the first time the appearance of a field “ username » within the WhatsApp application in a beta version. Nine months later, although the functionality has still not been deployed, it still seems to be on track, as indicated on the same website.
Unique usernames
In a publication posted online last week,WABetaInfoin fact shares the menu which will allow, when the function is deployed, to configure its user name. The screen displays in particular the fact that the selected symbols will not be completely free for users: “You can only use az and 0-9“. Thus, special characters, other than numbers and letters, will not be accepted for the user’s pseudonym. Furthermore, WhatsApp will ensure that the nickname is unique so that it is not already used by another user of the application.
The idea behind the arrival of the username within WhatsApp is to allow you to connect without having to enter your phone number. This should in particular allow the application to rely less solely on this number to connect. From then on, we can imagine simplified connections to other devices, such as a PC, a tablet or a second smartphone, without needing to be connected from a main smartphone. Furthermore, the adoption of usernames will also allow the use of pseudonyms. In certain countries, the use of a WhatsApp account linked to a telephone number can be particularly sensitive, particularly for activists or opponents.
At this time, it is still unclear when usernames are expected to arrive on WhatsApp. The Meta group’s messaging application has not yet officially communicated on this subject.