Is WhatsApp not working for you? You're not alone. Global outage causes chaos!
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The world that we live in is so fast-paced that we often rely heavily on technology to help make things more convenient for us.
We have the Internet for quick research, emails for virtual correspondence, and mobile apps for almost anything—from ordering food to booking a ride and even managing our daily activities!
Among these apps, messaging apps such as WhatsApp have become vital tools in our daily lives as a means of keeping in constant touch with our family, friends, and communities.
However, it seems the convenience of WhatsApp fell short for a while, causing a bit of a fuss all over the globe.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook Inc.), has experienced a worldwide outage due to 'connectivity issues'.
More than 150,000 users reported that they could not load the app or send messages, proving to be a frustrating hiccup in the middle of a busy day for many people.
Meta swiftly reacted to the matter, acknowledging the issue and promising to work towards resolving it as quickly as possible.
Down Detector, an online platform offering real-time updates on website and service statuses, experienced a significant surge in reports regarding WhatsApp outages. The influx began at 6:00 am AEST, reaching its peak with approximately 30,000 reports at 6:16 am.
Around an hour later, the official WhatsApp Twitter account shared a cheerful 'happy chatting' message, indicating that the issue had been resolved.
Even though this debacle was seen as a 'major disruption', it remains unclear what caused the outage.
For many Australians, WhatsApp is more than just a messaging app on their phones.
According to Civic Web Media, it stands as the most popular messaging app in the country, with a staggering user count of 12 million. In the past year alone, it gained approximately 4 million new users. Surprisingly, WhatsApp's active user base in Australia even surpasses that of Facebook Messenger.
It's even the third most popular social network in the country—quite a feat for an app primarily known for messaging!
This outage news comes hot on the heels of a warning issued to Aussies about suspicious messages on WhatsApp.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch has warned Australians against engaging with any WhatsApp messages from unidentified sources claiming they're travelling in Australia and wishing to make your acquaintance.
Apparently, chatting with these folks may lead you down the rabbit hole of a romance scam, which can result in the loss of money or even personal banking details.
Scammers often use fake online profiles and play on emotions to win the trust of their victims—a practice known as catfishing. Once they've won you over, they seize the opportunity to exploit your trust by asking for money or valuable information.
According to Scamwatch, Australians lost over $40 million to dating and romance scams in the previous year.
The highest number of reports came from individuals aged between 35 and 44, followed by those aged 65 and above. Among all age groups, people aged 65 and older reported the most financial losses, followed by those in the 55 to 64 age bracket.
So remember to stay wary, especially while using WhatsApp.
Have you noticed any recent issues with your WhatsApp application? And have you ever come across a suspicious message from a stranger looking for friends or professing their 'love'?
Don't forget to update your security settings and never share personal information with a stranger, no matter how friendly or convincing they may seem. Remember, if something doesn't feel right, it's better to block and report it than to take the risk.
Stay safe always, members!
We have the Internet for quick research, emails for virtual correspondence, and mobile apps for almost anything—from ordering food to booking a ride and even managing our daily activities!
Among these apps, messaging apps such as WhatsApp have become vital tools in our daily lives as a means of keeping in constant touch with our family, friends, and communities.
However, it seems the convenience of WhatsApp fell short for a while, causing a bit of a fuss all over the globe.
WhatsApp, owned by Meta (formerly Facebook Inc.), has experienced a worldwide outage due to 'connectivity issues'.
More than 150,000 users reported that they could not load the app or send messages, proving to be a frustrating hiccup in the middle of a busy day for many people.
Meta swiftly reacted to the matter, acknowledging the issue and promising to work towards resolving it as quickly as possible.
Down Detector, an online platform offering real-time updates on website and service statuses, experienced a significant surge in reports regarding WhatsApp outages. The influx began at 6:00 am AEST, reaching its peak with approximately 30,000 reports at 6:16 am.
Around an hour later, the official WhatsApp Twitter account shared a cheerful 'happy chatting' message, indicating that the issue had been resolved.
Even though this debacle was seen as a 'major disruption', it remains unclear what caused the outage.
For many Australians, WhatsApp is more than just a messaging app on their phones.
According to Civic Web Media, it stands as the most popular messaging app in the country, with a staggering user count of 12 million. In the past year alone, it gained approximately 4 million new users. Surprisingly, WhatsApp's active user base in Australia even surpasses that of Facebook Messenger.
It's even the third most popular social network in the country—quite a feat for an app primarily known for messaging!
This outage news comes hot on the heels of a warning issued to Aussies about suspicious messages on WhatsApp.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch has warned Australians against engaging with any WhatsApp messages from unidentified sources claiming they're travelling in Australia and wishing to make your acquaintance.
Apparently, chatting with these folks may lead you down the rabbit hole of a romance scam, which can result in the loss of money or even personal banking details.
Scammers often use fake online profiles and play on emotions to win the trust of their victims—a practice known as catfishing. Once they've won you over, they seize the opportunity to exploit your trust by asking for money or valuable information.
According to Scamwatch, Australians lost over $40 million to dating and romance scams in the previous year.
The highest number of reports came from individuals aged between 35 and 44, followed by those aged 65 and above. Among all age groups, people aged 65 and older reported the most financial losses, followed by those in the 55 to 64 age bracket.
So remember to stay wary, especially while using WhatsApp.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, underwent a global outage due to 'connectivity issues'.
- WhatsApp, the third most-used social network in Australia, reported an increase of 4 million users last year.
- The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Scamwatch warns users of potential scams from strangers claiming to be travelling in Australia.
- Romance scams led Australians to lose more than $40 million last year, with the older demographic (65+) reporting the biggest money losses.
Have you noticed any recent issues with your WhatsApp application? And have you ever come across a suspicious message from a stranger looking for friends or professing their 'love'?
Don't forget to update your security settings and never share personal information with a stranger, no matter how friendly or convincing they may seem. Remember, if something doesn't feel right, it's better to block and report it than to take the risk.
Stay safe always, members!