Tag

WhatsApp

Browsing

Meta’s adding some more ad tools to WhatsApp, in order to help businesses capitalize on the rising use of messaging, and WhatsApp in particular, in more markets.

First off, Meta’s adding a new option that will enable businesses on WhatsApp to launch paid promotions on Facebook and Instagram, without needing a Facebook account.

WhatsApp Facebook ads

As you can see in this example sequence, this new promotion type will include a WhatsApp CTA, which will drive potential customers back to your messaging channel.

That could be a good way to boost brand exposure, and open up a more direct line of communication via the messaging platform, which is also more likely to give you access to push notifications for any future messages.

Businesses need to respect the use of messaging in this regard, and avoid spamming potential customers (note: Meta has a limit on how many messages brands can send for this reason). But it could be a good way to establish direct contact, and keep customers updated on relevant product updates.

Along this line, Meta’s also adding some new promoted message options to connect with people who’ve previously registered interest in your business.

As per WhatsApp:

Starting soon we’ll begin testing a new feature within the WhatsApp Business app where small businesses will have the option to send personalized messages to their customers – like appointment reminders, birthday greetings or even updates on a holiday sale – in a faster and more efficient way. Rather than having to manually send the same message to multiple customers, this new feature will give businesses the ability to send personal messages with the customer’s name and customizable call-to-action buttons to specific customer lists such as those with a select label (like “VIP customers” or “new customers”), schedule the day and time the messages are sent and then see what’s working. We’ll offer this advanced, optional type of message for a fee in the WhatsApp Business app. We’ll have more details to share in the future.”

That’ll add another way to re-engage shoppers, and the more relevant you can make these updates, based on their past interaction history, the better.

WhatsApp’s focus on privacy has seen it become a more significant connective tool for many more users, while the broader shift towards messaging, as opposed to feed posting, has also helped to boost reliance on the app. And while WhatsApp has always been big in regions like Brazil and India, it’s now also seeing significant growth in North America, which Meta says is now the platform’s fastest-growing region.

Direct connection can be a powerful tool for engaging potential customers, and as users look to shift more of their interactions to more private spaces, it’s worth considering where WhatsApp may fit into your outreach planning.

Sourced from SocialMediaToday

But, you’ll have to pay

Meta is looking to capitalize on the 200 million users now catered to by WhatsApp Business, which previously stood at 50 million in 2020.

With ‘click-to-WhatsApp’ ads now accounting for a healthy part of the platform’s revenue, the Meta-owned messaging platform is now looking to expand that to allow users to generate ads without needing a Facebook account.

As part of the revisions to WhatsApp Business, companies will also be able to create ads for Facebook and Instagram from within the app.

WhatsApp Business is getting better

The news comes as Meta continues to battle a tough and changing economy during its so-called ‘Year of Efficiency’ which has seen it lay off thousands of workers and cut funding to several projects.

While the company has stated that it remains committed to artificial intelligence and the metaverse, ensuring a diverse selection of revenue streams is vital for sustainability, and given the four-fold increase in WhatsApp Business users, trying to eke out more money from SMBs and larger enterprises is a no-brainer.

The company has not confirmed how much the changes to its messaging app will cost, but we do know that the services will be chargeable thanks to a Reuters report.

Personalized messaging is also set to come to the platform, with the messaging app soon to be able to generate messages to customers to notify them of upcoming appointments, or for ecommerce businesses to advertise new products and sales, for example.

These changes represent an entire shift for the company as CEO Mark Zuckerberg looks to make more money from Meta’s messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Messenger.

The company has not announced details on pricing as yet, but testing for the new features is expected to follow imminently before a full release, likely later this year.

Feature Image Credit: Pexels/Anton

With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!

Sourced from techradar pro

With the rapid growth and evolution of e-commerce platforms, businesses are always on the lookout for innovative tools to enhance customer interactions and drive sales. One such powerful tool that has emerged is WhatsApp.

Originally designed as a messaging platform, its vast potential for business use cannot be overlooked. With marketing tools such as WhatsApp Web Sender, automated messages, and more, businesses can now utilize WhatsApp for e-commerce to connect with their customers, promote products, and drive sales.

This article will explore the advantages of using WhatsApp for e-commerce and how it can revolutionize the way you interact with your customers.

Introduction to WhatsApp in E-commerce

The digital realm has evolved, and with it, so have the platforms that consumers use to communicate and make purchases. While platforms like Instagram and Facebook have their place in e-commerce, WhatsApp offers a more personal and direct line of communication between businesses and their customers.

Advantages of Using WhatsApp for E-commerce

  • Direct and Personalized Communication

Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms where communication might feel one-sided, WhatsApp allows businesses to engage in direct and personalized conversations with their customers. This not only builds trust but also fosters a deeper relationship with the customer. They can ask questions, get immediate responses, and feel more connected to the brand.

For instance, a business can decide to use third-party tools like WhatsApp Chrome extension to send automated messages and product updates straight to their customers. Businesses can also embed links in those messages which leads customers directly to product pages, allowing them to make purchases with just a few clicks.

  • Efficient Customer Service

Queries, complaints, and feedback can be handled in real time on WhatsApp. By integrating a WhatsApp chat option on your e-commerce platform, you give your customers an efficient way to reach out, which can significantly improve customer satisfaction rates.

  • Integration with CRM Systems

WhatsApp can be integrated into various Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. This means that customer interactions on WhatsApp can be tracked, recorded, and analyzed to provide better services and offers tailored to individual customer preferences.

  • Marketing and Promotions

One of the significant advantages of using WhatsApp for e-commerce is the ability to send out marketing campaigns and promotions directly to customers. With features like broadcast lists and group chats, businesses can share the latest product releases, offers, and discounts, ensuring that their message reaches the targeted audience efficiently.

  • Efficient Order Processing and Updates

Once a customer places an order, they can be updated on the processing status, shipment details, and delivery time through WhatsApp messages. This not only ensures transparency but also reduces the anxiety of waiting for an order to arrive.

  • Secure Transactions

With end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp ensures that all conversations and transactions remain private and secure. This level of security can boost customer confidence, knowing that their data and transaction details are in safe hands.

  • Building a Loyal Customer Base

Regular and personal interactions on WhatsApp can foster loyalty among customers. By providing excellent after-sales service, addressing concerns promptly, and offering tailored promotions, businesses can ensure a loyal and returning customer base.

  • Feedback and Reviews

Receiving feedback is crucial for any business. Through WhatsApp, businesses can easily solicit reviews and feedback post-purchase, helping them understand what works and where improvements are needed.

Conclusion

WhatsApp, with its vast user base and intuitive features, is poised to become a game-changer in the world of e-commerce. Whether it’s through direct communications or seamless integrations, businesses now have a powerful tool to boost sales and enhance customer interactions. In this fast-paced digital era, it’s essential to leverage all available resources, and WhatsApp, with its myriad of benefits, is one resource that e-commerce platforms can’t afford to ignore.

But, you’ll have to pay

Meta is looking to capitalize on the 200 million users now catered to by WhatsApp Business, which previously stood at 50 million in 2020.

With ‘click-to-WhatsApp’ ads now accounting for a healthy part of the platform’s revenue, the Meta-owned messaging platform is now looking to expand that to allow users to generate ads without needing a Facebook account.

As part of the revisions to WhatsApp Business, companies will also be able to create ads for Facebook and Instagram from within the app.

WhatsApp Business is getting better

The news comes as Meta continues to battle a tough and changing economy during its so-called ‘Year of Efficiency’ which has seen it lay off thousands of workers and cut funding to several projects.

While the company has stated that it remains committed to artificial intelligence and the metaverse, ensuring a diverse selection of revenue streams is vital for sustainability, and given the four-fold increase in WhatsApp Business users, trying to eke out more money from SMBs and larger enterprises is a no-brainer.

The company has not confirmed how much the changes to its messaging app will cost, but we do know that the services will be chargeable thanks to a Reuters report.

Personalized messaging is also set to come to the platform, with the messaging app soon to be able to generate messages to customers to notify them of upcoming appointments, or for ecommerce businesses to advertise new products and sales, for example.

These changes represent an entire shift for the company as CEO Mark Zuckerberg looks to make more money from Meta’s messaging platforms, including WhatsApp and Messenger.

The company has not announced details on pricing as yet, but testing for the new features is expected to follow imminently before a full release, likely later this year.

Feature Image credit: Pexels/Anton

With several years’ experience freelancing in tech and automotive circles, Craig’s specific interests lie in technology that is designed to better our lives, including AI and ML, productivity aids, and smart fitness. He is also passionate about cars and the decarbonisation of personal transportation. As an avid bargain-hunter, you can be sure that any deal Craig finds is top value!

Sourced from techrador.pro

By Jeremy Rodgers

Meta has revealed that WhatsApp Business, the arm of the social messaging app designed for use by businesses, has just surpassed 200M monthly active users (MAUs).

This signals a four fold growth in users since the service began shortly after the pandemic broke out back in 2020.

The good news comes amid the tech giant’s “year of efficiency” as it works its way through thousands of job cuts and a costly restructuring job to the tune of $5 billion to navigate away from its largely failed foray into the metaverse.

But what’s next for the world’s most loved social messaging app? And what new features can businesses get excited about using to communicate with users?

New Features Roll out for WhatsApp Small Business Users

Earlier this month, WhatsApp rolled out its new channels feature enabling small businesses to send one-way announcement-style broadcast messages to groups in a similar fashion to how companies use other apps, such as Telegram, to post news and build communities.

Now, Meta has announced more features including click-to-WhatsApp ads that can be placed across Facebook and Instagram. This means sellers can now create and publish ads to Meta’s other two social apps directly from within WhatsApp Business.

This latest feature complements WhatsApp channels, enabling small businesses (which WhatsApp Business is primarily geared towards) to further integrate the social messaging app into their sales and marketing activities.

Other upcoming features include automated personalized messages and customer segmentation, for example sending new customers discount codes with “buy now” links.

Meta Focuses on WhatsApp Business for Revenue Generation

Ad sales, to the tune of $114 billion in 2022, have traditionally been the source of Meta’s revenue (over 97% of total revenue in ‘22). Primarily this has come from ads on its two flagship platforms, Facebook and Instagram. Generating revenue in this way is something Meta shares closely in common with the other tech giants.

But as Meta looks for new revenue streams, it’s steadied its gaze on revenue earned through paid messaging via WhatsApp Business. This shift commenced in February when the company announced a change to the pricing model and the messaging categories to include utility, authentication, marketing, and user-initiated conversations.

Following these changes, the latest raft of new features for businesses is set to expand on Meta’s plans for WhatsApp Business. Indeed, during Meta’s 2022 Q3 earnings call Zuckerberg mentioned that click-to-WhatsApp ads exceeded the annual revenue run rate of $1.5 billion, showing a year-on-year growth rate of 80%.

“I shared last quarter that click-to-message ads reached a $10 billion revenue run rate. And since then, the number of businesses using our other business messaging service—paid messaging on WhatsApp—has grown by 40% quarter-over-quarter.” — Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta

This announcement was significant because Meta doesn’t usually declare WhatsApp revenue separately. But, in 2023 Q1, the company announced the business arm of the social messaging app had strong growth in messaging revenue, suggesting we’ll see more of this to come.

What’s Next for WhatsApp Business?

Zuckerberg has poured billions of dollars into attempting to develop a metaverse. As he tried to lay claim to the trending and nebulous web3 world, Meta has had to look for ways to offset the revenue gap. This included ramping up WhatsApp, which has been free for users since Meta purchased it back in 2014.

This comes hot off the heels of Meta’s recent challenges with the $80 billion write-off following its foray into the metaverse and the ensuing 21,000 staff laid off over the last six months.

In the wake of these challenges, it seems that Meta is working tirelessly to bounce back as it focuses development on the world’s favourite social messaging app and its breakthrough and continued introduction to the B2B sector.

Around the globe, WhatsApp has introduced business payments to the platform. In Brazil, customers can now pay merchants directly from the app with a similar payment function also rolled out in Singapore.

Looking ahead, Meta has revealed the first AI tools for WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram this month, such as ChatGPT-esque bot conversations, to incorporate the big tech firm’s proprietary AI tools into its products.

By Jeremy Rodgers

Sourced from tech.co

By

The CEO of Meta Platforms announces a new day in tech: conventional normality.

The party’s over.

In tech, this amounts to saying that the cool and Zen culture marked by an office transformed into a cosy lounge is over. Used to be we came, we entered and we were at home. The fridge was full; everyone helped themselves. The buffet was permanent.

The employee was in the centre. Work-life balance was the principle. The well-being of the employee came first. Companies were required to do everything to put their employees at ease to get the best out of them.

No more.

It’s all a distant memory now, says Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms  (META) – Get Free Report. Welcome to the real world, he proclaimed on March 14.

The social media emperor just announced the elimination of 10,000 additional jobs, after 11,000 jobs were cut last November. In all, the parent of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has cut 21,000 jobs in four months.

‘Year of Efficiency’

It’s not just the cuts themselves that’s striking here. It’s the tone with which Zuckerberg announced the new wave of austerity measures. He adopted the vernacular of the boss of an old-economy company. He was a cost-killer. He was cold. It’s isn’t personal; it’s just business. He was a normal boss.

“In our Year of Efficiency, we are focused on cancelling projects that are duplicative or lower priority and making every organization as lean as possible,” Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post.

He continued: “As part of the Year of Efficiency, we’re focusing on returning to a more optimal ratio of engineers to other roles. It’s important for all groups to get leaner and more efficient to enable our technology groups to get as lean and efficient as possible.”

He used the word “efficiency” fully a dozen times, including three times in the first two paragraphs. These two paragraphs are a catch-all of classic corporate lingo that says everything and nothing: “improve our financial performance,” “difficult environment,” “execute,” “optimize,” “workstreams,” “processes,” “changes,” “uncertainty,” and “focus.”

He sounds like the CEO of a traditional company. His post is a manual, a guide that other tech CEOs will use as well.

The tone is cold. And it changed. In November, when Zuckerberg announced the elimination of 11,000 jobs, he played the sensitive chord. He apologized.

“I want to take accountability for these decisions and for how we got here,” the CEO said at the time. “I know this is tough for everyone, and I’m especially sorry to those impacted.”

This time, there is none of that. He is not sentimental, as if to put a wall between him and those for whom the music just stopped and who were asked to go home while the evening was in full swing. He just killed the fun.

A New Normal

Tech and Silicon Valley now enter the normal corporate world. In this world, what matters is to please the markets. And markets like cost cuts. The employee is secondary. If you make big profits with the least possible cost, the markets applaud.

Interestingly, Zuckerberg’s announcements come at the same time as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, a major player in the startup ecosystem and in Silicon Valley.

The two events cannot be separated. Their symbolism is strong. It is the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, or rather the meeting of the old economy and the new one.

In case anyone still has any doubts, Zuckerberg also appears to be ending remote work at Meta. Tech companies previously backed off from from forcing employees back to the office.

“Our early analysis of performance data suggests that engineers who either joined Meta in-person and then transferred to remote or remained in-person performed better on average than people who joined remotely,” he said.

“This analysis also shows that engineers earlier in their career perform better on average when they work in-person with teammates at least three days a week.”

“I encourage all of you to find more opportunities to work with your colleagues in person.”

The party is over. It’s time to grow up, Zuckerberg seems to be saying.

One last tip to reflect on, while you’re on your way home: “I encourage each of you to focus on what you can control. That is, do great work and support your teammates.”

Tech workers: Welcome to a normal boss and a normal company.

By

Sourced from TheStreet

By April Fowell

WhatsApp will soon release a new feature called “Expiring Groups” to let users set an expiration date for group chats, according to Engadget.

Expiring Groups

The Expiring Groups feature will appear within the group chat’s settings. Options include day, week or custom date for the group chat to expire. Users can also cancel an expiration to keep the chat intact.

One thing to remember is that expiration dates set will only apply to the user who set it, not to the other people in the group chat. With that, the group chat will still continue to exists, just not with the user who placed an expiration date.

It seems that the messaging platform will not just delete a group chat without notifying users. According to the feature description, “You will be prompted to clean up groups on the expiration date.”

Still, this is helpful when you want to reduce clutter in your account. This can also help save more storage space on your device.

Other Features That Will Be Rolled Out

There are other features that the messaging platform plans to roll out soon. A feature discovered by WABetaInfo, it saw a recent beta version of the app for Android.

It states that the app will have the option to silence calls from unknown numbers. That said, it seems that the feature will acknowledge calls, keep them in the calls logs, and also let them pass through and show up in notifications.

What’s great about this is that users won’t be distracted or alerted by incoming calls. And if you happen to miss a call from someone you know, you can always find their number and just call or message them back.

The feature is not available yet and it seems that it’s still in development. There is also a chance that the feature won’t make it to a full release or the possibility that it could be released. For now, nobody knows yet if the WhatsApp feature will be released to the public.

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging platforms today. It has over 1.6 billion users and is growing rapidly. It is used for both personal and business communication, and it is available in over 180 countries and in multiple languages. It is also available on a variety of platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac.

Overall, WhatsApp is continuing to evolve and improve its services. It is a great platform for both personal and business communication, and users can expect to see more features and improvements in the future.

Feature Image Credit: MANJUNATH KIRAN/AFP via Getty Images

By April Fowell

Sourced from TechTimes

By Abhik Sen

Bots that chat with you and help you buy stuff are the new rage in e-commerce

For those of us who love buying fresh vegetables from the neighbourhood store daily, the Covid-19-induced lockdowns were a stressful time. Using WhatsApp as a notepad to make lists of things one needed to buy—which many people were prone to do—one had to first send the list to the grocer on the messaging app and hope that he checked it before the fresh produce was sold out; next, one had to wait for the grocer to get back with the bill and then make the payment via an e-wallet or UPI. Sometimes, one would even have to call the grocer to confirm that the payment was made, and then wait for the delivery to happen. The stress then led to many daily shoppers, like a relative based in Kolkata, to make—horror of horrors—weekly purchases.

After the lockdowns were lifted, the daily shoppers were back at their favourite neighbourhood grocery stores. My relative, a retired corporate executive, too, went back to his old routine, but a service he started using recently is causing some disruption in his habits. The service in question is JioMart on WhatsApp, which helps him order groceries and provisions in an interactive and seamless manner. And the convenience has convinced him to give his daily morning trips to the local grocer a miss.

But grocery is just one way you can use the messaging app. According to Ravi Garg, Director of Business Messaging-India, at Meta, you can also buy tickets for the Bengaluru metro on WhatsApp, and scan the e-ticket to board the train; and even book an Uber cab! These types of transactions on messaging apps are called conversational commerce, a term believed to have been coined by Chris Messina, the inventor of the hashtag, in 2015.

What exactly is conversational commerce? According to experts, conversational commerce is shopping on a messaging platform, where a chatbot engages in a conversation with a customer and helps her to buy a product, which is usually a small-ticket item. According to Prashant Garg, Technology Consulting Partner at EY India, conversational commerce usually involves products like apparel, fashion products, FMCG, fresh foods or other consumer goods. He adds that if a generative AI-powered chatbot starts conversing with customers, a third of them end up buying a product. “The bot has methods and a mechanism built in to engage with customers and keep them engaged till the decision to buy is made,” he says.

According to independent data platform Statista, total spending over conversational commerce channels worldwide will jump to $290 billion in 2025 from $41 billion in 2021. And while the market is still nascent in India, it has huge potential. According to Akhilesh Tuteja, Partner & Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunication at KPMG in India, India is home to the largest consumer base for the biggest conversational commerce enablers. “India is home to more than 600 million smartphones with one of the cheapest internet connections in the world. This infrastructure, along with the reach provided by these platforms and vernacular accessibility through voice commands, sets the right platform for Indian as well as global brands to penetrate the Tier II and Tier III cities. The new generation in these cities is more aspirational, tech-savvy and has increased disposable income,” he says. Although India is a long way from China, it still has 200 million-plus online shoppers, 65 million-plus MSMEs and $100 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) today—the total addressable market for conversational commerce is huge, he adds. EY’s Prashant Garg agrees. “In two years’ time… we will be nearly a quarter of whatever China is now,” he says.

No wonder that for Meta, conversational commerce, or ‘business messaging’ as the company calls it, is its next big bet. In India, its tie-up with JioMart is significant since WhatsApp had more than 500 million users in India per an IT ministry release in February 2021, while JioMart—part of billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries—has more than two million merchant partners. The tie-up was a “lighthouse example” for the world, Nicola Mendelsohn, Vice President of Global Business Group at Meta, had told BT in an earlier interaction, adding that all types of businesses were already working organically on WhatsApp.

Ravi Garg says that since the roll-out of the service in late August, a lot of businesses have approached Meta and shown interest in building a similar experience. “We built the business platform—WhatsApp—and it can enable any type of business on the platform,” he says. Business messaging can be used across all of Meta’s platforms, and Ravi Garg says that the company is looking at three ways to monetise its messaging platform. First is the WhatsApp Business App, which is free to use for small businesses; now, Meta is planning to add a subscription layer, which will give users access to advanced features. Second, its WhatsApp Business Platform API, which is for medium and large businesses. Here, businesses are charged for conversations they have with customers. The third revenue stream is click-to-messaging ads, wherein, by clicking on an ad on Facebook or Instagram, one lands on a messaging conversation.

 

Meta’s bullishness on business messaging in India is backed by research. According to a Kantar survey commissioned by Meta in April 2022, more than 70 per cent of Indians surveyed said they prefer to message businesses rather than send emails, call or visit their website, while 75 per cent said they are more likely to do business with/purchase from a company that they can contact via messaging. The survey adds that 86 per cent of adults in India message a business at least once a week, considerably higher than the global average of 66 per cent.

Ravi Garg says that business messaging provides customers with a personalised experience, something that shopping online generally lacks. EY’s Prasahant Garg adds that if an AI-powered chatbot is at work, it can provide customers with a personalised experience that even a brick-and-mortar store is unable to, since the bot has to engage with a single customer while a shop assistant has to attend to many. He adds that AI-powered chatbots can be added to existing websites or apps to drive customer engagement. This is done by using turnkey solutions powered by conversational AI that uses data, machine learning, and natural language processing to imitate human interactions, recognise speech and text inputs, and translate their meanings across languages. For instance, software giant IBM has such a solution called IBM Watson Advertising Conversations, which helps facilitate personalised AI conversations with consumers virtually anywhere online.

While the space is set to grow rapidly in India, it is not without its challenges. Tuteja of KPMG in India says that customising and training a conversational AI product in a country with around 22 official languages along with the required accuracy, is possibly the biggest challenge. The next challenge is enabling security and privacy for the users of the conversational AI product in a manner compliant with the local laws, he says, adding that ensuring human bias and examples of unethical behaviour from the training data do not pass into the AI is another big challenge.

Meta’s Ravi Garg says that for WhatsApp, user privacy remains at its core, despite it being open for business. “Messaging is the best way for people and businesses to connect, and India has led that transformation on WhatsApp. The scale, use-cases, and new buying experiences from the region are things we are really excited to see. What’s happening on WhatsApp in India is inspiring our customers all over the world. With business messaging as a top priority for Meta, we’re committed to helping businesses of all sizes in India to build valuable journeys on WhatsApp and keep innovating in this space,” says Matt Idema, VP of Business Messaging at Meta.

As for my Kolkata-based relative, he is happy with the convenience afforded by technology as it offers him more time for other pursuits. Wonder what other chatbots he will start conversing with next.

By Abhik Sen

@abhik_sen

Sourced from btMAG

By Hadlee Simons

WhatsApp now lets you evade government clampdowns with this handy new feature.

Many governments around the world crack down on internet services, be it due to political unrest, protests in general, or for other reasons. Thankfully, WhatsApp has a solution with its latest feature.

The Meta-owned company has announced proxy support in WhatsApp, allowing people to stay connected to the messaging service if it’s blocked or disrupted by authorities.

“Choosing a proxy enables you to connect to WhatsApp through servers set up by volunteers and organizations around the world dedicated to helping people communicate freely,” the company explained. WhatsApp also noted that messages sent and received via a proxy still offer end-to-end encryption, but cautions that your IP address will be shared with third-party proxy providers.

Want to connect to WhatsApp via a proxy? Then the team suggests that you first search the web or social media to find a proxy from a reputable source. You’ll then need to visit Settings > Storage and Data > Proxy > Use Proxy > Set Proxy. From here, you’ll then enter the desired proxy address and tap save.

It’s worth noting that this solution won’t work if internet connectivity is completely shut down in a country. So you’ll have to rely on peer-to-peer messaging apps instead. But this is still a handy tool for people in authoritarian regimes.

By Hadlee Simons

Sourced from Android Authority

By

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is claiming that the company’s WhatsApp messaging platform is “far more private and secure” than Apple’s iMessage platform. Zuckerberg’s claim came in a new Instagram post. Considering Meta’s entire business model is based on tracking and advertising, Zuckerberg’s claims can be considered somewhat iffy.

WhatsApp is far more private and secure than iMessage, with end-to-end encryption that works across both iPhones and Android, including group chats. With WhatsApp you can also set all new chats to disappear with the tap of a button. And last year we introduced end-to-end encrypted backups too. All of which iMessage still doesn’t have.

The post shares a Meta billboard in New York City that promotes WhatsApp over SMS or iMessage. Apple’s Tim Cook and Zuckerberg have long been in an ongoing battle of words.

During 2021, Facebook continued its public battle with Apple over changes in iOS and iPadOS that made it harder for companies to track users across other websites and apps. Facebook claimed Apple’s “App Tracking Transparency” hurts small businesses that rely on advertising to attract new customers. Zuckerberg went so far as to claim that Facebook’s lackluster growth in the last quarter of the year was partly to blame on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency.

In case you’ve forgotten, Meta, otherwise known as Facebook, was named the worst company of the year for 2021, according to a survey conducted by Yahoo Finance. The “honour” followed a bad year for the company, as it faced 12 months of public backlash, criticism from all quarters, and even a rebranding of the social media company.

By

Sourced from mactrast