11 Facts About WhatsApp

WhatsApp Logo Icon (credit: whatsapp)

You are not by yourself if you have ever been a little irritated by WhatsApp's tendency to add new features more quickly than you can grasp them. Sometimes all I desired to do was send a straightforward message, however I ended up scrolling through menus and wondering, "Wait... this was not here this past month." WhatsApp has developed, evolved, and transformed in ways that plenty of individuals have never considered, which makes it strangely fascinating despite those minor annoyances. Furthermore, the application's backstory is much more remarkable than the application itself. These 11 facts explain how WhatsApp is designed, the reason it functions so effectively, and how a number of its unique features are capable of helping you use it more intelligently.

1. WhatsApp Was Originally Ad-Free By Philosophy: The founders of WhatsApp had a particular personal policy of no advertisements before the application became well-known. They thought that advertisements cut off discussions, which is just as annoying as having somebody lean over your shoulder each moment you text. The majority of people continue to value the more organized message area that the application became as a result of their firm standing.

2. WhatsApp Was Built For Status Updates, Not Messages: WhatsApp was not intended for texting, which might appear weird presently. You could post status updates like "At the gym" or "Busy for the next hour" on the initial edition, which was comparable to a "digital sticky note." It fulfilled the same function as those uncertain updates that your companions share on social media that left you wondering.

3. WhatsApp Used iPhone Push Notifications to Evolve: The goal of the application was changed by a modification to iPhone push notifications. Users started getting alerts whenever other people updated their statuses, as opposed to status updates happening silently. The founders realized that this felt like message after that small change. WhatsApp nearly unintentionally turned into a chat application. It serves as a useful overview that certain times the most innovative ideas come from unforeseen circumstances.

4. WhatsApp Optimized to Run on Low-End Phones: WhatsApp's "popularity" was not the only factor in its massive growth. It expanded due to the fact it was compatible with almost any smartphone, including older ones that had trouble running complex programs. Individuals in areas with weaker networks found it particularly useful because of this decision. This explains why WhatsApp typically succeeds when you send a message with just one bar of signal and hope it gets through.

5. WhatsApp Avoids Storing Messages on Its Servers: A common misconception is that WhatsApp does not retain your messages on its servers after they are delivered. They are virtually instantly deleted. Messages are only momentarily kept whenever the recipient is not online. This is comforting for individuals who are concerned about their privacy, and it goes well with the following argument.

6. WhatsApp Uses The Signal Protocol For Encryption: It is not visually appealing to have the padlock icon next to your chats. WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption implements the same technology as cybersecurity experts' favourite, Signal. This indicates that even WhatsApp is unable to read your conversations since they are so chaotic. Just as when you lock your letter in a safe prior to shipping it, the code is only known to the individual who you are texting.

7. WhatsApp Blue Ticks Were Added Years After Launch: Unbelievably, read receipts were nonexistent in the past. The "last seen" timestamp and some assumptions were used. Friendships worldwide were put to the test as soon as blue ticks appeared. "Why did you not respond?" appeared out of nowhere and continues to do so. Whether you like them or not, they have transformed our communication style.

8. WhatsApp Web Mirrors The Phone, Not The Cloud: WhatsApp Web did not have a direct cloud connection for an extended period. Rather, it replicated the activity on your smartphone. The web version immediately disconnected if your smartphone went out. It functioned something similar to a remote screen on your laptop. Fortunately, multi-device mode gradually lessened this restriction, although the unexpected "Phone disconnected" warnings can be explained by the initial configuration.

9. WhatsApp is One of The Few Major Apps Built on Erlang: While WhatsApp used an alternative strategy, the majority of social media platforms implement popular programming languages. Developed initially for telecom systems, Erlang seamlessly manages high communication demands. Envision a freeway designed not for small vehicles but for large trucks. Because WhatsApp opted for the trucking method, it is able to process billions of messages per day without failing.

10. WhatsApp Has a Hard Limit on Group Sizes For Stability: For many years, group chats were limited to fewer participants in order to maintain stability. WhatsApp progressively increased limitations as infrastructure got better. Despite crashes and chaotic situations being avoided thanks to this precautionary strategy, you continue to be vulnerable to that buddy who sends you twenty-five voice notes prior to breakfast.

11. WhatsApp Once Charged $1 Per Year: WhatsApp requested a $1 yearly fee from its users years prior to it starting being free. The goal was to stay away from fund servers and advertisements, not to become wealthy. Plenty of early users recall waiting anxiously for their renewal notification as if it were a little charge to join a private, ad-free club. The charge eventually vanished entirely.

Summary: Connecting The Globe, One Chat at a Time

On the outside, WhatsApp may appear straightforward, however below each message you send is a complex web of decisions, threats, and joyful surprises. Certain choices were based on privacy, others on ease of use, while other decisions were total shocks, such as push notifications that transformed status updates into interactions. If anything, the above 11 facts demonstrate that even the applications we use on every day have backstories filled of strangeness, failures, and creative ideas. Perhaps this clarifies the reason WhatsApp continues to change in ways that are both exciting and occasionally puzzling. The above facts provide a good place to begin if you have been attempting to make greater use of WhatsApp's capabilities or figure out how it operates within. And who is aware? You could remember one of the above facts with a small smile rather than annoyance the following time a buddy leaves you a voicemail when you are stuck in traffic.