WhatsApp Username Feature Rollout: Meta-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp is gradually rolling out its new 'usernames' feature to the wider global audience. The company claims that this new feature will allow people to chat with anyone without the need for sharing their personal mobile numbers; apart from that, users will also have the option to generate a username key which can be altered later or even removed, and this same logic applies to usernames as well.

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The company is pushing people even before the complete rollout takes place to get their own unique username reserved before it is gone due to overlap of names, as the company suggests that it has over three billion users on its platform, and there is a possibility that someone else might get that username first. In a post on X, the new CEO, Kunal Shah, has expressed that he has already reserved his own username before the public rollout. He wrote on the social media platform, “Timing is everything. Joined WhatsApp early enough to claim my username before we release this to the world. Time to get yours."

Now it's not all good for this new feature, as criticism is rising against its usage and safeguards, although WhatsApp has also noted that prominent public figures will have their usernames reserved to curb instances of impersonation and fraud, but there might be a bigger picture that we need to look at.

Criticism Wave Raises

Even though this feature seems like a good step, there is a fair amount of criticism coming its way from eminent public figures and prominent personalities and even users on X over its misuse that circles around the realm of privacy, security and fraud. Prominent public figure Ankur Warikoo took to X to share the same as the gradual rollout of these features takes place and has expressed that this usernames feature could actually be harmful to the wider public if proper safeguards are not put into action. He is of the opinion that this usernames feature will give fraudsters the ability to create usernames that closely resemble public figures and that could be used to scam people or dupe them financially or even lead them into joining fraudulent groups.

 

“In a country such as India, this could be a disaster if the right anti-abuse systems are not set up by WhatsApp," Warikoo expressed in his post on X (Twitter). He added further, “I have fought a legal case against Meta's lack of attempt to bring down AI-generated ads showing my face, luring people into investment WhatsApp groups. I understand how massive this scam is and how easy it is in our country to execute it. So forgive me if, from a public figure's standpoint, this feature raises some serious concerns."

His post acted like a magnet for many users who resonated with a similar sentiment. Some users even commented on if this feature is even necessary at all or just another gimmick by Meta, which is making it feel more like a social media app than an instant messaging one. “Usernames are not even needed. It was supposed to be just a messaging app, not a social app... and now we are in too deep and too reliant on WhatsApp that we have to take this bullshit from them."

Some users also feel that this is degradation of the app and privacy would still be impacted, stating, 'The problem is that it is being rolled out in the name of privacy, but if they really cared about privacy, they would be bringing optional features where people only in your contacts would be able to call/message you on WhatsApp.' This is one hell of a degradation of the app.”

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Now how this new feature will pan out we will only know with time, as there is always criticism, sometimes also fair, about new features, and yes, there is a possibility of impersonation becoming a real problem, but now it all depends on how WhatsApp puts its safeguards into force to prevent this from proliferating into a bigger problem. For now the company wants you to hop on the bandwagon and get your username reserved, and public criticism will follow the gradual rollout; it would be interesting to see what the Meta-owned platform will do next.


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