WhatsApp opens up reserverstation system ahead of username rollout

Watch WhatsApp opens up reserverstation system ahead of username rollout - Rizzle on Dailymotion

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00:00WhatsApp opens up Reserver Station System ahead of Username Rollout

00:04After 15 years of stubbornly forcing users to hand over their phone numbers, WhatsApp

00:09is finally catching up to literally every other messaging app on the planet.

00:13The Facebook-owned platform is rolling out username support because apparently it took

00:17them this long to realize that maybe just maybe people don't want to share their actual

00:21phone numbers with every rando they meet online.

00:24WA Beta Info spotted the smoking gun, a shiny new username reservation link buried in settings,

00:31suggesting Meta is actually serious about this whole privacy thing they keep yapping about.

00:36Once available, go to WhatsApp Settings then Username Reservation.

00:39From there, enter your desired handle and submit.

00:43If someone else has already reserved it, you'll be prompted to choose another.

00:46The reservation system is already live for some, letting users snag their preferred handles

00:51before the feature officially drops.

00:53The username rules are refreshingly straightforward.

00:56Lowercase letters, numbers, periods and underscores are fair game.

01:01You can't start with www. and you need at least one letter to prevent complete chaos.

01:06This move puts WhatsApp in the same league as Telegram, which has been laughing at WhatsApp's

01:10phone number-only policy since forever.

01:12Sure, you'll still need a phone number to create your account initially, but at least now

01:16you won't have to broadcast it to every group chat member or business contact.

01:21The timing feels strategic with privacy concerns mounting and competitors offering more flexible

01:26options.

01:27WhatsApp needed this feature yesterday.

01:30While Meta hasn't confirmed an official launch date, the fact they're already setting

01:33up reservation infrastructure suggests we won't be waiting much longer.

01:37Finally, some actual innovation from the messaging giant that's been coasting on network effects

01:43for over a decade.

01:55So, let's start with a few.

01:58So, let's start with the fact that we've got a few things to talk about.

02:02So, don't let me think that's the last thing.

02:04I'm going to think that's what we've got to do.

02:06I'm going to think that's what we're going to do.