WhatsApp Usernames: The new shield for your privacy

THE MESSAGING GIANT TESTS UNIQUE HANDLES TO PROTECT NUMBERS, CONTROL ACCESS, AND REDEFINE ONLINE IDENTITY.

- By Prasad Perera Independent Media Analyst, Researcher on Tech, Media & Online Safety, X @BuduMalli

WhatsApp is testing a major privacy update that could let users communicate via unique usernames rather than phone numbers. For Sri Lankans relying on the app for work, school, and community life, the change promises protection against spam, phishing, and unwanted contacts. As usernames emerge, users can expect a shift toward more private, identity-based communication, though challenges like impersonation and name-squatting may follow.

Many WhatsApp users have experienced being added to unfamiliar groups filled with random names, profile pictures, and endless “Good Morning” messages.

In those moments, a personal phone number often shared only with close contacts becomes visible to complete strangers. It’s a small but significant reminder of the privacy challenges that come with convenience.

In Sri Lanka, WhatsApp has become an essential part of everyday life. From school groups and office updates to religious events and business promotions, almost every form of communication now runs through the app.

But beneath this convenience lies a persistent concern: anyone with your number can reach you, add you to groups, or access your profile details without permission.

Launched in 2009 by former Yahoo employees Brian Acton and Jan Koum, WhatsApp began as a simple status-sharing app and has since grown into the world’s most widely used messaging platform.

Now owned by META the parent company of Facebook and Instagram it connects more than 3 billion people globally, including an estimated 10 million in Sri Lanka.

Yet questions about user privacy have followed the platform for years.