Meta is adding built-in protections against impersonation as WhatsApp prepares to roll out its new username feature, aiming to prevent scammers from exploiting one of the messaging platform’s biggest updates in years.
The company said high-profile usernames, including those belonging to public figures, celebrities and well-known brands, will only be available to their legitimate owners. The move is designed to reduce impersonation and fraud as users begin adopting usernames instead of phone numbers.
The announcement comes days after WhatsApp opened username reservations for its more than three billion users globally. The usernames are expected to become fully functional later this year.
The additional safeguards address concerns that scammers could create usernames resembling those of businesses or public personalities to deceive users. By reserving these usernames for verified owners, Meta hopes to reduce fake accounts before the feature becomes widely available.
The company has not yet detailed how the verification process will work, but said the protections form part of its broader effort to improve safety on the platform.
WhatsApp puts privacy first
WhatsApp’s username feature marks one of the platform’s most significant privacy changes in recent years. Once it launches, users will be able to start conversations using a unique username instead of sharing their phone number.
The change addresses a long-standing privacy concern on WhatsApp, where exchanging phone numbers has traditionally been the only way to connect with new contacts. With usernames, users can communicate while keeping their personal numbers private.
The feature also brings WhatsApp closer to rivals such as Telegram and Signal, which have supported username-based messaging for years.
The latest safety measures build on Meta’s efforts to make the transition more secure, particularly as scams and impersonation attempts continue to target messaging platforms worldwide.
Similar read: Privacy: WhatsApp now allows you share usernames with people instead of your phone number
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