Ben Jones believes that whether it’s usernames, messaging apps, or social media, families who talk openly can equip their children with confidence and Christ-centred identity
WhatsApp has started rolling out usernames, allowing people to connect without sharing their mobile phone number. On the surface, this is a welcome update, giving users greater privacy and more control over how they are contacted.
However, as with any new technology, it also raises important questions for parents and guardians.
If your young person uses WhatsApp, now is a good time to understand what this feature means and have a conversation together before they choose a username.
Why does this matter?
For years, we’ve taught our children not to share their phone number online. Now, many young people may begin sharing their WhatsApp username instead.
this is more than just another setting. It is an opportunity to help your young person think carefully about their digital identity
Although a username is less personal than a phone number, it is still part of a person’s digital identity. If it is shared publicly or with the wrong people, it can become another route for unwanted contact.
WhatsApp introduced usernames to improve privacy, not reduce it. However, privacy features work best when young people understand how to use them wisely.
Many young people are already familiar with usernames through Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. In that sense, WhatsApp isn’t introducing a completely new idea.
What makes this update different is that WhatsApp has traditionally been a private messaging platform, centred around people you already know. Usernames move part of that experience towards a digital identity that can be shared more easily.
For many families, this will be a positive step towards better privacy
For parents and guardians, this is more than just another setting. It is an opportunity to help your young person think carefully about their digital identity, their privacy and how they choose to represent themselves online.
The positives
There are genuine benefits.
Young people no longer need to share their mobile number when connecting with others, reducing the amount of personal information they give away online.
For many families, this will be a positive step towards better privacy.
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Understanding the risks
The biggest risks are not created by the technology itself but by how it is used.
A username is much easier to share than a phone number. It can quickly circulate through friendship groups, schools, gaming communities or social media, increasing the possibility of unwanted messages, cyberbullying or contact from people your young person doesn’t know.
Some young people may also choose usernames that reveal personal information, such as their surname, birth year, school or favourite places, without realising how much they are sharing.
Another concern is a false sense of security. Hiding a phone number is helpful, but it does not replace healthy conversations, sensible privacy settings or knowing how to block and report unwanted contact.
conversations encourage young people to think intentionally about both their safety and the way they present themselves online
The conversations every family should have
Rather than simply asking whether your young person has created a username, ask questions that help them think more deeply.
- Why did you choose that username?
- Does it reveal anything personal about you?
- Who have you shared it with?
- Have you posted it on social media or gaming platforms?
- What do you want your username to say about you?
These conversations encourage young people to think intentionally about both their safety and the way they present themselves online.
What if my young person needs to change their username?
WhatsApp allows users to change their username if they no longer wish to use it.
If your young person feels uncomfortable because their username has become widely known, they can choose another one without losing their existing chats or contacts.
However, changing a username is not a complete solution. If someone has already started a conversation with your child, they should also know how to block, report, and seek help from a trusted adult.
What’s in a name?
When Jesus met Simon, He gave him a new name: Peter, meaning “rock” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus wasn’t simply giving Simon a different name. He was revealing something of the role and calling He had for him within God’s mission.
Throughout the Bible, names carry meaning. They speak of identity, character and calling. In the same way, a username may only be a few words on a screen, but it communicates something about how we choose to present ourselves to the world.
As parents and guardians, this gives us an opportunity to ask a deeper question: What do you want your username to say about you?
Before our children create a username, God already knows them by name. Their identity is not found online but in being loved, known and called by Him. When children are secure in that identity, they are free to choose usernames that reflect their character, values and, where appropriate, their faith.
our truest identity is not something we create online. It is something we have already received from the God who knows us
Our culture often encourages young people to create an identity. The Christian story invites them to discover the identity they have already received from God.
Just as Peter’s new name pointed to the role Jesus was calling him to fulfil, our usernames can become one small way of expressing the kindness, hope and character God is shaping within us. They should never define us, but they can reflect something of the person we are becoming.
Imagine if our young people chose usernames with that same sense of purpose. Digital spaces could become places where God’s love is reflected through the way they communicate, encourage others and live out their faith.
A username may seem like a small detail, but it can remind us that our truest identity is not something we create online. It is something we have already received from the God who knows us, calls us by name and invites us to follow Him.
WhatsApp usernames are neither something to fear nor something to ignore
Five things to do today
- Ask your young person if they have created a WhatsApp username and why they chose it.
- Look at it together and consider whether it reveals more personal information than necessary.
- Encourage them not to publish it on social media, gaming platforms or public profiles.
- Review WhatsApp’s privacy settings together and make sure they know how to block and report unwanted contact.
- Keep the conversation going. The most effective online safety tool isn’t an app. It’s a young person who knows they can always talk to a trusted adult.
Final thoughts
Technology will continue to change, but one thing remains constant. Our children need trusted adults who will help them navigate it with wisdom.
WhatsApp usernames are neither something to fear nor something to ignore. They are another opportunity to talk about privacy, identity and the values that shape how we live online.
Ultimately, our goal is not simply to help our children choose a safe username. It is to help them become young people whose identity is secure, whose values are rooted in Christ and whose digital lives reflect the hope, wisdom and love they have received from Him.
You can read more about WhatsApp’s advice here.
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