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'This Will Increase Scams': Internet Reacts To WhatsApp's New Username Reservation Feature
24htopnews | June 30, 2026 8:09 PM CST

WhatsApp’s rollout of username reservations has triggered mixed reactions on X, with users split between praising it as a major privacy upgrade and warning it could enable scams and impersonation. While some highlighted the added passkey protection, others questioned Meta’s motives and raised concerns about data use and account linking.

WhatsApp's announcement that users can now reserve a username ahead of the feature's full launch later this year has triggered a wave of reactions on X, with opinions split between welcoming the privacy upgrade and warning that it could open the door to fresh scams and impersonation.

Privacy praise meets scepticism over Meta integration

Several users initially welcomed the move. A user named Sandeep Mall wrote that he thought the feature "was a good idea," noting that it comes with a passkey so not everyone can ping a user, preserving the privacy of their number. Asif Iqbal (@AsifIqbalLive) was more emphatic, calling it "a bigger privacy upgrade than most people realise."

Not everyone was convinced of the motive behind the rollout, however. Rajat (@rajatsandeepsen) offered a more cynical take, suggesting the feature was "the only way to force billions of people to connect their Meta account to their personal number," and predicted that Reels and ads would soon be recommended based on users' personal WhatsApp chats.


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