How does WhatsApp's proposed username feature compare to Telegram's feature?

The username feature on WhatsApp is not yet implemented; The meta said in a statement that it will be rolling out slowly over the coming months. (Representative image) | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Union government has blocked WhatsApp’s username feature, for which the Meta-owned messaging platform is currently accepting bookings. In a notice to the social media platform, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) wrote that hiding phone numbers and displaying only usernames “can substantially increase online fraud, phishing, digital arrest fraud and impersonation attacks by allowing bad actors to solicit and message victims.”

The announcement drew comparisons with Telegram, which was banned for a week before the NEET re-test on June 21. Telegram and another widely used WhatsApp competitor, Signal, have had a username feature that has been hiding phone numbers for years.

WhatsApp features

The username feature on WhatsApp is not yet rolled out. The meta said in a statement that it will be rolling out slowly over the coming months. Essentially, the feature allows people to share just a username and optional PIN with new contacts they may be hesitant to share their phone number with.

When receiving a message from a user who hides their phone number, Meta says, WhatsApp will display its country of origin and tell users if they’re already in the message recipient’s phone list.

MeitY said in its announcement that the feature could “facilitate impersonation and identity fraud, including impersonating individuals, public bodies, financial institutions and government agencies, by allowing the adoption of usernames that closely resemble those of real persons or institutions.” A WhatsApp spokesperson said it had already “reserved” the usernames of prominent figures to prevent them from being used by fraudsters.

Telegram function

Telegram’s username feature works by allowing anyone to choose a username and allowing anyone with a username to message someone with just that information. “If you’re not comfortable with it, we don’t recommend setting up a username on Telegram,” the messaging company says on its website.

Like WhatsApp, Telegram username usage does not reveal users’ phone numbers unless they have enabled it in the app’s settings.

Also read | Extension of “information” to telegram

Telegram has expanded its username settings over time. For example, the app maintains an ongoing auction for short and memorable usernames on the Fragment blockchain website. It also allows users to claim inactive usernames if the user already has the same username on two major social media platforms.

Telegram’s username feature was not a significant part of the ban that passed last month. This was mainly because some Telegram “channels” (which are easier to start there than on WhatsApp) were able to embed the finished exam question paper in PDF format as if it was a message sent a few days ago. This, according to the government, could cause panic that information has been leaked.

In the cases of both Telegram and WhatsApp, the government has shown an increased willingness to veto the platform’s architectural choices as part of cyberspace regulation. WhatsApp has been instructed to delay the username feature until “consultations” take place between Meta and the government to the “satisfaction” of the government.

Published – 02 July 2026 10:40 AM IST