Meta has responded to growing concerns around its recently announced WhatsApp username feature. This came after the government asked the company to pause its rollout in India. The response came through a detailed post on X, where WhatsApp answered some of the most common questions about how the username feature will work and what safeguards the company has implemented. Officials are worried that allowing people to connect without sharing phone numbers can make it easier for scammers to impersonate others or create fake identities. In its post, the company explained what it is doing to prevent that.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has raised concerns that usernames could increase online fraud. Since people will be able to connect without sharing phone numbers, the government believes it may become harder to identify scammers.
As per the government, usernames that closely resemble those of real people, government departments or other trusted organisations could be used for phishing, impersonation and other online scams.
Also read: Why Govt ordered Meta to stop WhatsApp usernames feature: Everything we know so far
Username reservations are here, as more and more people claim theirs, here’s answers to the top questions you’re asking ⬇️
— WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) July 1, 2026
Q: Are usernames mandatory?
A: Nope, they are optional.
Q: What if the username I want isn’t available?
A: There’s a few reasons you might not be able to…
In its post on X, WhatsApp clarified that usernames are optional and not mandatory. The company also said users will not be able to search for other people simply by entering a username.
“Just like you can’t search for a phone number in WhatsApp, you can’t search for a username,” the company said. It added that the best way to avoid unwanted contact is to choose a username that is unique to WhatsApp and enable a username key, which acts as an extra security layer.
WhatsApp also said usernames are not available for messaging yet. When messaging through usernames becomes available, users will see safety information before replying to someone new. This will include the sender’s country, whether the account is new, and if both users share any groups.
To reduce impersonation, WhatsApp said well-known names and their variations, including public figures, celebrities, government organisations and Meta Verified accounts, have been reserved for their legitimate owners.
The company also rejected claims that people can reserve famous usernames unfairly. “People are making false claims about reserving popular or well-known usernames – this isn’t true,” WhatsApp explained. “We enabled reservations before usernames launch later this year because we think people will feel strongly about what username they want on WhatsApp. We’re taking our time and listening to feedback so that when it rolls out later this year we get it right.”