Meta has rolled out a major update for its WhatsApp Messenger app. Users will now be able to reserve a username on WhatsApp. Meta began rolling out this feature to users worldwide on Monday. This is a key privacy feature designed to protect the privacy of users' phone numbers.

The username reservation facility is launching on Monday, allowing people to create and reserve their usernames ahead of the feature's full rollout within the app later this year.

**Reserve a username directly from the app**
Users will be notified within the app once the reservation feature becomes available. WhatsApp states that for most people, a WhatsApp username should be unique and known only to the people they wish to connect with.

In a statement, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned platform said, "A username is a way to connect with someone on WhatsApp without sharing your phone number. You choose your own username, and it does not necessarily have to match the handle you use on other apps."

**This privacy feature**
The company further explained that this is essentially a privacy feature, not a social media handle. There are no directories or suggestions for browsing; therefore, for someone to contact you via username for the first time, they must know your exact username.

WhatsApp stated, "Your phone number remains secure. You can now share your unique username instead of your phone number. There are no public directories or suggestions. People need to know your exact username to find you. You can update your username directly within the app."

**Who can message you?**
You can set a 'username key' to control this. Anyone messaging you via your username for the first time will need this key to reach you, thereby further enhancing your account's security. You can change this key at any time. Last week, Meta CEO Zuckerberg announced that CRED founder Kunal Shah would join Meta as the next global CEO of WhatsApp. Meta is also investing approximately $900 million (around ₹8,550 crore) in the fintech company CRED.

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