*By Rose Okudaye (NAN)
Some WhatsApp users in Nigeria have expressed divided opinions over the messaging platform’s planned username feature, which is expected to allow people to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The new WhatsApp privacy feature has triggered debate among users who believe it could improve online safety, while others fear it may reduce the platform’s unique identity.
The reactions followed WhatsApp’s rollout of username reservations on June 29, 2026, ahead of the full launch of the feature later in the year.
According to WhatsApp, the update is designed to give users more control over their privacy by allowing them to use a unique username instead of exposing their personal mobile numbers to new contacts.
In Lagos, Linda Agbu, a journalist, welcomed the development, saying usernames could make WhatsApp accounts more secure and harder to access unlawfully.
Agbu said phone numbers could sometimes be guessed or contacted by mistake, but a personalised username would offer users a more controlled way to connect.
She noted that the change could reduce unsolicited calls and help people avoid giving out their phone numbers to strangers.
However, Ogochukwu Obiagwuncha, a baker based in Port Harcourt, expressed concerns about the feature.
Obiagwuncha said WhatsApp’s phone number system felt more original and private. He argued that usernames could encourage strangers to guess people’s identities and attempt to message them without prior approval.
Blessing Okudaye, an entrepreneur in Abuja, described the username option as a positive privacy upgrade for WhatsApp users.
According to Okudaye, the feature would be especially useful for business conversations, as users could interact with new clients, customers, or associates without immediately sharing their personal phone numbers.
She said the option would allow people to decide when they are comfortable enough to exchange direct contact details.
Kudirat Habeeb, a Lagos resident, disagreed with the change, saying WhatsApp may lose part of what makes it different from other social media platforms.
Habeeb said the phone number-based system had long separated WhatsApp from platforms that rely mainly on usernames. She suggested that Meta could focus on improving other areas of the app instead of changing one of its core identity features.
Eneyo Asuquo from Benin City supported the update, saying it could help prevent unwanted access to users’ phone numbers.
Asuquo said many people currently receive calls from individuals they do not know simply because their numbers are available. He said usernames could reduce that risk.
He also suggested that Meta should strengthen the feature further by allowing users to approve or reject first-time contacts before a conversation begins, similar to privacy controls on Facebook.
Another user, Ruth Agabi in Lagos, said the username feature may appeal to younger users but could create challenges for older people.
Agabi said some elderly WhatsApp users may struggle to remember usernames, especially if they are already more familiar with phone number-based communication.
WhatsApp said there would be no public username directory and no username suggestions. The company stated that anyone trying to contact a user for the first time would need to know the exact username.
The platform also introduced an optional “username key,” which would require a first-time contact to enter a special key before sending a message.
WhatsApp said the username key is intended to add another layer of protection against unwanted messages and give users more control over who can reach them.
The planned WhatsApp username feature is expected to become available to more users later in 2026, with notifications to be sent through the app when the option is ready.
NAN
