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WhatsApp Enables Kenyan Username Reservations, Hiding Phone Numbers

6/30/2026

Summary

WhatsApp Launches Usernames

WhatsApp began offering username reservations to Kenyan users on June 29, 2026.
Users reserve a unique handle in Settings > Account > Username, which is not publicly listed.
Reserved usernames will conceal phone numbers in chats later in 2026.
A four-digit key can be set to block contacts.
WhatsApp Head Kunal Shah announced on X that creators and businesses can claim Instagram or Facebook handles via Meta’s Accounts Center, though business usernames still show phone numbers.

Summary

WhatsApp Adds Usernames

WhatsApp is introducing usernames so users can chat without revealing phone numbers.
The company reserved handles for figures, governments and celebrities and blocked look-alike names to stop impersonation.
The rollout follows earlier tools such as disappearing messages, view-once media, encrypted backups and optional last-seen hiding, indicating a privacy push.
Signal’s 2024 addition of usernames, Telegram’s long-standing support and services like Germ DM offering burner cards reflect a shift toward number-free identifiers.

Summary

WhatsApp Needs Number

WhatsApp will still require a valid phone number to create a new account after usernames become available.
The app lacks a QR-code scanner for username exchange, requiring users to share handles verbally or by text.
Meta says the reservation system aims to stop duplicate usernames among its over 3 billion users.
Users can begin reserving a username on Monday, with full messaging via usernames launching later this year.

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WhatsApp Launches Usernames

WhatsApp began offering username reservations to Kenyan users on June 29, 2026.
Users reserve a unique handle in Settings > Account > Username, which is not publicly listed.
Reserved usernames will conceal phone numbers in chats later in 2026.
A four-digit key can be set to block contacts.
WhatsApp Head Kunal Shah announced on X that creators and businesses can claim Instagram or Facebook handles via Meta’s Accounts Center, though business usernames still show phone numbers.

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