whatsapp, which has long relied solely on phone numbers, will soon allow users to create their own usernames. according to wabetainfo, the company is testing a pre-registration system for @usernames, allowing users to register their preferred nicknames in advance.
competing platforms such as telegram have already implemented similar features. the username rules discovered in whatsapp's beta code stipulate that usernames must not start with "www", and can only use lowercase latin characters, numbers, periods, and underscores. this should standardize usernames and reduce the risk of spam accounts.
even if this feature is not yet active, the app's settings will display a username reservation option. this approach allows users to actively protect their usernames from fraudsters and cybersquatters.
the developers have not officially announced the release date of this new feature, but since the reservation system is currently under development, it's likely that user nicknames will be supported soon.
