Get ready to surf social media handles free for all.
Earlier this week, Meta announced that its popular messaging platform WhatsApp will introduce usernames. These handles can replace people’s phone numbers, allowing them to keep that personal contact information private if they choose. The username feature is not working yet, and will see a global rollout in the coming months.
However, username reservations are now open, and there’s already been a frenzy for people to confirm how they want to be known to their friends and family and the wider app community. If you want to have the same tag across all of your platforms, you’ll want to act fast. Here’s what you need to know to block your WhatsApp username.
How to save a username
Currently, username booking is only available on mobile versions of WhatsApp. If you keep your app updated, you can get a notification when usernames are available to save. If you think you missed the notification or want to go to the menu yourself, here are the steps you can take:
For iPhone
- Tap the You button
- Tap your profile
- Select “Create Username” or “Save Username” (The option may vary depending on the release stage.)
- Tap Save > Done
For Android
- Tap the three-dot menu
- Tap Settings
- Tap your profile
- Select “Create Username” or “Set Username” (Again, what you see depends on what’s available to you.)
- Tap Save > Done
Restrictions on WhatsApp usernames
Like most other social networks, your username should be unique. That means that no matter how much you’d like to be known as GlitterQueen4Eva, if someone else grabs that title first, you’ll need to come up with another way. The only chance you’ll be lucky enough to get hold of a username that’s already been taken is if that person chooses to change their hold, which is possible. If the desired handle is changed or removed, that name is returned for pickup after 14 days. Meta has not specified how many times a person will be allowed to change their handle, but the limit will be enforced at some point.
In the menus above, if you don’t want to create a new ID for yourself, you will see the option to use your same username on Facebook or Instagram. If you think no one else has caught him, you can lock that name. You may want to go with a real WhatsApp name if privacy is your username goal.
By default, the username must be between three and 35 characters. They can contain lowercase letters, numbers, underscores and periods. You will not be allowed to have a username for all numbers, and “restricted words or phrases” will also not be allowed.
Use common sense to avoid scams
Meta has some steps in place to ensure that messages come from people you know, such as an authorization key for people contacting you with a username for the first time. However, there are concerns that adding unverified names to accounts could increase the chances of fraudsters convincing their targets that they are someone else. While Meta won’t allow anyone to claim to be Beyoncé or Tim Cook, the company has yet to explain how it will deal with copycats. While it’s safe to assume that the real Taylor Swift wouldn’t message you desperate for money, social media scams have cost unsuspecting people billions of dollars in the US alone.
Meta is already looking back against a global rollout in India. Reuters reported that the Indian government wants Meta to suspend the release until it provides more reasons for the feature and how the company will combat the high risks of fraud. India is WhatsApp’s largest market with over 500 million users.
