WhatsApp has officially rolled out the new username feature allow users to chat with other people without necessarily sharing their personal phone numbers.

According to Meta, the feature is designed to give users more control over their privacy. Once a person creates and activates a username, new contacts who message them for the first time will not be able to see their phone number.

Instead, they will only see the username linked to the WhatsApp account.

To reserve a username, users will need to open the latest version of the WhatsApp mobile app. They can then go to Settings, select Account, and tap on Username. From there, they can choose a unique handle that other people can use to find and contact them.

WhatsApp usernames must be between three and 35 characters long. They can include lowercase letters, numbers, full stops and underscores.

Users should choose their names carefully because each username must be unique.

However, WhatsApp will not create a public directory of usernames. There will also be no list of suggested usernames for people to search through.

This means that anyone who wants to contact a person must already know their exact username.

The platform will also offer an optional security feature known as a username security key. When this option is enabled, new contacts may be required to enter the key before they can send a message through the username.

This could help users reduce unwanted messages and improve their privacy.

Although the new feature hides phone numbers from new contacts, users will still need a phone number to create and maintain a WhatsApp account.

The username does not replace the phone number completely. Instead, it provides an additional way for people to connect while keeping their numbers private.

The feature is expected to be useful for people who want to communicate online without immediately revealing their personal contact details.