If you've ever been uncomfortable giving your phone number to someone you barely know, whether in a work group, a business meeting, or even at a social event, WhatsApp finally has the solution that millions of users have been asking for for years. The most popular messaging application on the planet has just officially announced the arrival of aliases or usernames, a feature that promises to forever transform the way we connect with others within the platform.

And yes, we know what you're thinking, Telegram has had it for years. You're right. But that WhatsApp brings it now, with more than 2,000 million active users in the world, is news that cannot be ignored so easily.

WhatsApp adopts the Telegram model and takes it to the next level

Those who use Telegram know very well what this is about. In that app, each user can choose a unique handle preceded by the @ symbol, such as @John, and anyone can add you using that name without needing to know your personal number. You can share it on social networks, in your Instagram bio or send it by email without revealing a single digit of your telephone number.

WhatsApp is going in exactly that same direction. According to official information, the new system will allow you to create a unique identifier within the app, made up of letters, numbers and some special characters, preceded by the @ symbol. The most interesting thing is that the model does not eliminate the traditional option: you can add someone by both their phone number and their alias, which gives the user the flexibility to choose how they want to be found and by whom.

This combination of options is exactly what makes the proposal so strong. It's not about forcing you to abandon the way you used WhatsApp, but rather giving you an additional layer of control over your own digital identity. And in a world where online privacy has become a serious issue, that has enormous value.

Why this feature is a big step for your digital privacy

Here is the point that matters most, the one that many users do not fully appreciate. Your phone number is not just a way to contact you, it is one of the most sensitive personal data that exists. It is linked to your legal identity, your bank accounts, your profiles on multiple platforms, and dozens of services you use every day. Sharing it with unknown people—or even with large groups—involves a real risk that goes far beyond receiving unwanted messages.

When your number is exposed in a WhatsApp group with people you don't know, for example, that data can end up in external databases, spam lists, or even in the hands of malicious actors. Phishing, harassment and messaging scams have grown enormously precisely because the phone number works like a master key that opens too many doors at once.

With the alias system, the link between your account and your SIM card is protected by default. You can interact with strangers, connect with clients, collaborate on projects or participate in communities without exposing that critical data. And if at any time you want to cut contact, simply change or deactivate your alias without your personal number being compromised. It's the kind of separation between your public digital life and your private information that users have long needed.

In addition, the system will be accompanied by additional security mechanisms, such as approvals to initiate conversations and anti-spam filters, which prevents opening the system from becoming a backdoor for abuse.

When will it arrive on your phone and how to configure it

For now, the function is in the testing phase within the beta versions of WhatsApp, both on Android and iOS. It is not yet available to all users, but development is clearly advanced and Meta would not have made the official announcement if the launch was not close.

Industry estimates suggest that general rollout will begin in the second half of 2026, with a gradual rollout that will likely reach some countries or devices first before expanding to the rest of the world. As is usually the case with big WhatsApp updates, the safest thing to do is keep the app updated to receive the feature as soon as it is available in your region.

When it arrives, activation will be simple: you'll need to go into your profile settings and claim a unique name that no one else has registered. From there, you can decide who can find you through that alias and whether you want your number to remain visible to your frequent contacts, allowing you to segment your digital life in a way that until now was not possible on WhatsApp.

For years, WhatsApp built its entire architecture on a simple premise: your phone number is your identity. That logic worked well for a long time, but the digital world has evolved and so have users' expectations of privacy. This new alias system is not just a product update; It's a clear sign that WhatsApp understands where the global privacy conversation is going and is willing to catch up, even if it has taken longer than expected to do so.