WhatsApp joins the 24 hour bandwagon
With the advent of technology, every morning you are amazed, happy, sad and sometimes puzzled ‘was it really required’? This was my mindset when the popular messaging app with a user base of 1 billion celebrated its 8th birthday on February 24, 2017.
Happy existence! But, that wasn’t user`s reactions across the globe. The internet especially Twitter and Facebook was flooding with mixed reactions about the new update.
So, what`s the new Status?
If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to do the following:
- Open WhatsApp
- Tap on Status
- You will see a + sign on the top right corner- If you don’t see this, you need to update the application
- The +sign is your new status
The status here is no longer ‘Hey there I am using WhatsApp' or ' Can`t talk WhatsApp only’ its replaced by images, GIF`s, videos or you can either select one from the existing images or take a new one.
The immensely popular social networking giant, Facebook acquired WhatsApp two years ago for a whopping $19 billion. According to Bloomberg, the application which is used by 1 billion users hosts a daily thoroughfare of about 60 billion messages, 3 billion photos, 750 million videos and 80 million GIF`s. The statistics are mind-boggling! WhatsApp has introduced some useful updates in past like read receipt, end to end encryption and video calling, but the puzzle is still unsolved – was this new update required?
Facebook also took over the favourite app used by millennials i.e. Instagram. There were rumours about the co-founders of the social rival company Snapchat to have declined the acquisition offer with Facebook many times in the recent past.
This new feature in WhatsApp is similar to Snapchat and Instagram stories. You upload a photograph and that can be seen by your contacts for a period of 24 hours only. This actually allows users to be dormant but visible. The 24 hour feature was introduced by Snapchat in 2011 and it was replicated by Instagram in 2016.
This update has definitely has caused troubles for Snapchat. According to a recent report, Snapchat has seen an 82% drop-off of its user-base since the 2016 launch of Instagram stories. The rivalry between the two social giants is quite evident where the replica has surpassed the original.
I clearly remember a similar incident took place two years back in 2014 when Facebook acquired WhatsApp and then I was actively completing my thesis on Facebook. Similar scenario of users being baffled about the acquisition, but this meant more.
Personally, WhatsApp is a messaging platform for me where I am connected with my loved ones and extended social circle and I do not perceive it as a platform for entertainment which is the case with Facebook and Instagram. The status updates were a medium to communicate, inform and express.
For an example: I am travelling or I am busy – Simply user could update his status and inform about his schedule. A similar analogy can be drawn with the age old telephone which was majorly used to inform and stay in touch with long lost friends and relatives. The status updates were also an effective way of expressing be it retrospection, happiness or angst. Yes, I do agree pictures speak a thousand words, but the recent update fails to do that.
Here are some interesting reactions about the update:
- Update Snapchat, Instagram stories and now WhatsApp!
- Where all should I update my status?
- Instagram, Snapchat are apps for the millennials whereas WhatsApp is a family oriented app
- No, I don’t want my mum to see my latest status
- The application can be seen as augmentation to entertainment device for users
- It can be a good tool for advertisers to sell their products and attract eyeballs
- Every 24 hours I have to speak my mind, I am happy, I am holiday, I am on a vacation – UPDATE…UPDATE
- Instead this could have be an addition to the text status option
Amidst all the human emotions it is seen as a great move to increase monetization and keep the users glued to the platform. WhatsApp could have looked at better options to celebrate its birthday like an interface similar to slate where users could scribble their status updates with some cool word-art tools.
‘Hey there I am still using WhatsApp’ and miss my last seen status!