Usernames on WhatsApp

  • Owned end-to-end content design for a new identity system across consumer and business messaging apps.

  • About 2 ½ years from early discussions, research, framing UX options to WhatsApp leads to execution mode and final launch.

  • Launching one of the most sought after features on WhatsApp! Now users don’t have to share their phone number with strangers to connect.

This project took over 2 years of iterating, sweating the details and aligning multiple org leads.

Usernames: A new identifier on WhatsApp that lets you connect with new people without sharing your phone number.

My childhood crush and Bollywood star Aamir Khan promoting usernames on WhatsApp!!

The problem: WhatsApp users don’t want to share their phone number with strangers in large groups or people they meet casually in person.

Tl;dr:
As the lead content designer owning all things usernames, I led end to end content strategy on the reservation, creation and activation flows on both WhatsApp consumer and business apps.

I distinguished value props for each app, worked with designers and marketing partners on both apps to keep language consistent and conversational while also validating designs with users over a span of 2 years - often needing to iterate and update the experience.

I owned username upsell campaigns on Instagram and Facebook. I collaborated with DS & PMM to understand global audience cohorts and how their relationship to WhatsApp should impact the content positioning on IG and FB.

This update to the app required years of organization, documentation and aligning across multiple teams. I owned and drove alignment for UX and content updates across multiple UX, product, legal, policy, security, engineering and content leads on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

Overall scope:
- Usernames on WhatsApp business and consumer apps
- Upsells on Instagram and Facebook
- iOS, Android and web surfaces across all apps

Creation flows
Reservation flows
Cross-platform account linking (Meta Accounts Center linking >WhatsApp to IG/FB or IG/FB to WhatsApp)
Privacy controls
Naming/terminology
Value prop positioning
User research
Error handling
Localization
Help center organization

Results
Username reservations launched in June 2026. Full feature capabilities will launch later in the year. No metrics available yet.

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