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Newslaundry
Newslaundry
National
The News Minute

WhatsApp is introducing usernames: What they are and how they work

WhatsApp Meta Facebook Instagram Ankur Warikoo Telegram

WhatsApp is introducing usernames, allowing users to chat without sharing their phone numbers. The optional feature marks one of the biggest changes in the messaging app's history, which has relied entirely on phone numbers since its launch.

Rivals such as Telegram and Signal have offered username-based identities for years, but WhatsApp has so far resisted moving away from phone number-based communication.

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