By News18,S Aadeetya

Copyright news18

WhatsApp could soon stop you from sharing mobile numbers and let you save/reserve usernames that will act as the mode to message you. The messaging app is looking at new ways to help users hide their number from the account and instead rely on usernames, something that BlackBerry did many years back with BB ID.
The new WhatsApp feature is being tested in the Android beta version which is yet to reach all the users but that should happen in the next few months.
WhatsApp Reserve Username: What It Means
The feature has been spotted by WaBetaInfo in their latest post, which gives more details about how the username will work and what reserving one means for the user. The tipster has even shared a screenshot of the new feature and how it functions within the app.
As you can see here, the new Username option in the profile settings has the ‘reserve username’ option. The tipster claims usernames will be reserved for select users which means if you hide the mobile number, people won’t be able to message you randomly on WhatsApp.
Photo: WaBetaInfo
And just like how people were able to personalise their email IDs, WhatsApp is likely to give users the option to reserve their usernames before someone else takes your pick.
But how will usernames give you better privacy? The report claims WhatsApp will block usernames with ‘www’ so that people don’t imitate a website or a platform.
It can have characters, numbers and alphabets along with special symbols. In addition to this, the username will come along with a key that you can share with friends and known contacts so that your WhatsApp message feed is not flooded with unwanted/stranger messages or even scammers.
This does feel like an important step in preventing users from getting random messages. However, with Meta AI at the centre of its changes, WhatsApp will certainly become a concern for many as Meta looks to personalise its advertising business through the platform from December this year.
The messaging app does offer end-to-end encryption, something that made in India Arattai by Zoho does not support for messages (and only calls). But the presence of AI could change the narrative around WhatsApp if the ads start to become annoying.