Everyone will be required to update their username through Discord.

According to Discord, all users will be required to change their username "over the coming weeks."

There are 150 million monthly active users worldwide of the online chat service, which enables people to create and join groups depending on their interests.

Users were previously identifiable by a name followed by a hash and four numbers.

The new approach will be consistent with Twitter, Instagram, and other sites by requiring users to create an original username that is followed by a "@" symbol.

According to a Discord spokesman, "We've changed our username system to make Discord more accessible and user-friendly for both new and existing users after hearing from many users about the difficulties connected with interacting with friends on our platform."

However, the change has drawn criticism online, with people questioning its justifications.

It was compared by one individual to a "huge step backward" and by another to a phone company changing the phone number of a customer to that person's complete name. Popular illustrator Aura said that if people don't protect their login, they "run the risk" of being impersonated.

The oldest accounts will be able to choose their new usernames first, according to the age of their accounts.

Like Twitter, they must be alphanumeric and may contain underscores and full stops, but not capital letters.