WhatsApp responds to Indian government's order to pause the planned rollout of its username feature Comments
- Bval
- XA9
Bb, 02 Jul 2026People who get scammed by fake usernames deserve to be scammed. lollol. You can get get scammed because the service is badly designed.
- Sam N8 808 owner
- rKZ
Cyberchum, 06 Jul 2026Well, this comment section is evidence that human wants are insatiable. Not just that, a lot a... moreSo, you mean I can't oppose the 1st bullet aimed at me, and after it hits, I can't oppose the 2nd bullet?
Both the moves killed privacy for their eras.
1. Go into a whatsapp group, and you easily know who knows whom and sometimes, how well. Plus, you can even message those who're not your contacts.
2. Now, username means you'll be getting spam messages from unknown numbers. How tough it is to message "Jack", "John", "Jim", "Anna" and various combinations with numbers and symbols, and seeing where they hit.
In fact, if you reserved as easy name, you're done.
- Cyberchum
- qCc
Well, this comment section is evidence that human wants are insatiable. Not just that, a lot are unintelligent, because wtf is going on here???
Most IM services make use of username. And that isn't a problem. WhatsApp was actually the first instant messenger to use phone number as mandatory identifier, and people have been complaining about how it's a privacy risk and demanding for username. Now, username is coming and people have turned around to complain again? Sick!
- Vitaliano G.
- Fvd
Sam N8 808 owner, 04 Jul 2026Exactly. Meta should never underestimate the common public's power to wreak havoc.
Alrea... moreWell, my instagram, y!, gmail, outlook users are based on a unique combination, that I've been using since year 2000, and somehow, that username was already taken when I tried to reserve it.
I'm guessing here I became a public figure without even knowing.
I guess I'll be chatting with my alter ego real soon :'D
- Anonymous
- MnJ
Not sure how this would change anything? Like there isn't any scammer already with the massive burner / fake numbers from the country...
- unxpctd
- 40m
David, 02 Jul 2026The username feature is silly because scammers will use legitimate sounding usernames that peo... moreThen they shouldn't be using computing devices of any kind. There was once a time when the user was supposed to be suspicious and non-cooperative by default. It was called internet safety.
- Sam N8 808 owner
- XVn
UnconcernedGorilla, 03 Jul 2026This is a good reason for everyone who uses WhatsApp to drop it and go to literally any other ... moreExactly. Meta should never underestimate the common public's power to wreak havoc.
Already Whatsapp business initiative has led me into receiving so much SPAM messages. Insurance corps, fraud investment companies, and all.
You block one number, another 10 numbers are ready to blast you.
I expect a can of worms to be opened.
- Sam N8 808 owner
- XVn
You can't be cent per cent sure.
So, you reserved celebrities' names?
Cool, but what about my college's professor?
What about the local leader?
Won't some impersonator create names on this basis and keep them hidden until the right moment, when tricks can be played?
Won't those people be benefitted the most, who have multilple phones at their disposal?
- UnconcernedGorilla
- xIH
This is a good reason for everyone who uses WhatsApp to drop it and go to literally any other app that is the same. Usernames are not needed and will inherently make the use of this app worse.
Insane how many companies are shooting themselves in the foot recently
Sony
Xbox
Meta
Who's next?
- Anonymous
- LKn
David, 02 Jul 2026The username feature is silly because scammers will use legitimate sounding usernames that peo... moreIsn't contacting you through your username password protected?
- Rhea
- U@m
The feature has already rolled out. Those who have reserved usernames are now shown by it. Watsapp said they would roll it out over a couple of months but they already have.
- Anonymous
- XRx
David, 02 Jul 2026The username feature is silly because scammers will use legitimate sounding usernames that peo... morethose who are gullible enough to fall for scams will fall for it regardless of it being a phone number or username or anything else
- Bb
- Ld5
Bval, 02 Jul 2026Scammers are ready. That is a great way to scam people !!!!!People who get scammed by fake usernames deserve to be scammed. lol
- Anonymous
- jt7
Still the worst for privacy and security 🤣
- Deep
- 2@k
Anyone can use any username be it famous celebrity or other people and people will believe that. Username feature is only good for scammers not for common people. This should not be implemented.
- Anonymous
- s8g
This has to be read in the wider context. On one hand GoI has worked to ensure that the legal owner's name appears for all Indian callers as part of standard caller ID feature. On the other hand, WhatsApp's user name feature delinks the names from their phone.
I believe GoI's stand is better than WhatsApp's in this matter.
- Anonymous
- 7kp
David, 02 Jul 2026The username feature is silly because scammers will use legitimate sounding usernames that peo... moreour phone numbers are already floating in the world in many databases without your knowledge, and already getting many unwanted marketing messages and calls anytime, for that matter this usernames benefit and effect is limited in reality unless our numbers aren't truly deleted from all such places where we didn't authorised.
- Anonymous
- XTt
Hello, 02 Jul 2026I believe this is happening because a user reserved this username "PMNarendraModi" a... moreYeah, Keep believing that...
- Hello
- U{f
Here is the link:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IndiaTech/comments/1uj2mdi/whatsapp_username_update/
- Hello
- U{f
I believe this is happening because a user reserved this username "PMNarendraModi" and posted it on reddit...
