With over 2 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used instant messaging apps worldwid. However,
Meta, which owns WhatsApp, announced earlier this year that it would stop supporting older phones as of October 24, 2023.
There are several reasons behind WhatsApp’s decision to stop support for older phones. First, apps constantly need security updates to protect against vulnerabilities. However, it may be difficult or impossible for older phones to support these updates. Second, older phones may not have the features and capabilities needed to support the latest versions of WhatsApp. Third, WhatsApp may want In focus on developing new features for users on newer versions of the operating system.
The phones affected by WhatsApp’s decision are:
Android devices:
Android devices running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean or earlier
Android devices running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean or earlier
Android devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean or earlier
iPhone devices:
iPhone 5
iPhone 5c
iPhone 5s
If you’re using one of the affected phones, you’ll need to upgrade your phone to a newer version of the operating system to continue using WhatsApp, and if you’re unable to upgrade your phone, you’ll need to find an alternative instant messaging app.
WhatsApp’s decision to stop support for older phones is expected to have a major impact on millions of users around the world. However, this decision will likely also motivate users to upgrade their phones to newer versions of the operating system.