Whatsapp

PHOTO ART: MERCA2.0 | CANVA WhatsApp, the messaging app owned by Meta, continues to strengthen its position as the world’s most widely used communication platform. According to Statista’s Mobile Messenger and Communication Apps report (2025), the app reached 3.24 billion unique mobile users worldwide in June 2025, marking a 6.7% increase over the previous year. READ ALSO: SEP suspends classes for 15 days in the 2025–2026 school calendar This milestone positions WhatsApp not only as the most popular messaging app but also as one of the most globally pervasive digital platforms, surpassing social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. With a model that combines simplicity, privacy, and functionality, the app has achieved deep penetration in nearly every market—particularly in emerging economies where mobile usage dominates. READ ALSO: They’re practically giving away this OPPO—the best mid-range phone with advanced AI Where is WhatsApp most intensively used? One of the key findings of the report is the high intensity of use in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. While the global average monthly use of WhatsApp stands at 16 hours, some countries far exceed that figure: Indonesia and Brazil average more than 24 hours per month per user. Mexico is also among

Just more than 24 hours after notification of a 20 per cent school fee rise, 800 Radford parents were sharing their thoughts in a large group chat. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia Nieve is the Canberra Times' education reporter, covering all levels from early education through to universities in the capital. Previously she was the political reporter at The Courier in Ballarat. Get in contact at nieve.walton@austcommunitymedia.com.au Nieve is the Canberra Times' education reporter, covering all levels from early education through to universities in the capital. Previously she was the political reporter at The Courier in Ballarat. Get in contact at nieve.walton@austcommunitymedia.com.au More from Education Daily Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.

Jules Wang / AP Sign in to your Android Police account WhatsApp has been silently working on adding username support to its platform for over two years now. Signs of the feature first appeared way back in May 2023, though progress has been slow. The company confirmed its intention to add username support in October last year. But there has been radio silence since then. Now, Meta has emailed businesses to prepare them for the upcoming username feature. Meta's email notes that username support in WhatsApp will help further bolster privacy by allowing users and businesses to show their username instead of phone number in individual and group chats. For businesses, they can switch to a username to further build their brand name instead of relying on a phone number. It will also make it easier for customers to directly connect with brands on the messaging platform. Meta feels this change will help improve business interactions, as they have "heard that people feel more confident engaging with businesses when their personal information stays private." More importantly, the email reveals that username support on WhatsApp will be optional and only roll out next year. So, it seems we still have a

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The app supports recording and sending voice messages, as well as sending quick emoji reactions to incoming messages | Photo Credit: REUTERS Meta-owned WhatsApp gets a huge upgrade as the messaging service will now be available as app in Apple Watch. Through the app, users can manage their chats without needing to reach for their iPhones. The app will provide call notifications, enabling users to see who is calling directly from their wrist. Users can also read full WhatsApp messages, even lengthy ones, on their Apple Watch. Additionally, the app supports recording and sending voice messages, as well as sending quick emoji reactions to incoming messages. WhatsApp claims the media experience has been improved, with clear images and stickers now visible on the watch. Users can also view more of their chat history on screen. WhatsApp assures users that personal messages and calls remain private with end-to-end encryption. The platform notes that this update marks the beginning of further enhancements for the app on Apple Watch, with more functionality expected in the future. The new WhatsApp Apple Watch app requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later, running watchOS 10 or later. Published - November 05, 2025 12:23 pm IST

Previously, Apple Watch owners could only receive WhatsApp notifications and send basic replies through notification shortcuts. With the new watchOS app, WhatsApp now supports: Viewing entire chat threads Sending emoji reactions Recording and sending voice messages Viewing media such as stickers and images Receiving call alerts Meta confirmed that end-to-end encryption applies to all communication on the Apple Watch app. Rollout and device support The app requires Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 10 or newer, according to WhatsApp and Apple’s support information. Users must also have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on their paired iPhone. The launch follows recent moves in the wearable messaging space, including the rollout of a Snapchat app for Apple Watch earlier this year. Industry observers have noted that major communication platforms have been adding richer features to smartwatches as usage increases, but WhatsApp had not previously offered a full Apple Watch experience. Feature set and future plans According to WhatsApp, the Apple Watch app currently functions as a companion to the iPhone version. Meta stated that additional features will be released in future updates. The company reported that the launch aims to provide more flexibility for users who want to manage

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) set aside portions of the Competition Commission of India's (CCI) order that barred WhatsApp from ...

If you want to keep your WhatsApp messages safe, the next update to this popular chat app could be critical. Parent company Meta, which also owns Facebook and Instagram, has announced plans to roll out a new passkey-encrypted backup system that lets you protect your complete chat history with a fingerprint, facial scan, or the passcode used to unlock your iPhone or Android device. WhatsApp was the first messaging service to introduce end-to-end encryption for its backups. End-to-end encryption has been used to scramble and secure text messages, voice memos, documents, and videos sent within WhatsApp since mid-2016, but the same safeguards weren't afforded to backups until October 2021. Upcoming WhatsApp feature could save you money, and will definitely free up your storage It ensures that you are the only one able to unscramble the contents of your backup. To do that, it ensures files stored in iCloud or Google Drive, the cloud storage solutions for iPhone and Android handsets, respectively, are unreadable without access to a password or 64-digit encryption key. With passkey support, you'll be able to unscramble backups of your WhatsApp data using the same methods on your iPhone or Android device as authenticating a contactless payment

Home Technology Apple watch users, Watch Out! WhatsApps new feature might finally fix your biggest complaint WhatsApp is trying out a new app for Apple Watch! Soon, you might be able to send messages, see chats, and look at photos right from your wrist. This is a big step for messaging on smartwatches. WhatsApp is taking a major step into smartwatch territory. The Meta-owned messaging giant is currently testing a dedicated companion app for the Apple Watch that moves well beyond simple notification mirroring. Until now, Apple Watch users of WhatsApp have been restricted to seeing message previews and sending brief replies – effectively a notification extension of the iPhone app. But in the latest beta via Apple’s TestFlight, the experience evolves: users can browse chat lists, read full messages, send replies, react with emojis and voice-notes, and view shared media – all from their wrist. Importantly, this version remains a companion app rather than a fully independent WhatsApp client. The Apple Watch still needs to remain paired and connected with the iPhone for core functionality. No standalone access (yet) without the phone nearby. Some of the headline features spotted so far include: Add India.com as a Preferred Source Full

"They also used his photo as a display picture on a WhatsApp number from which they sent messages to several of his acquaintances," the officer said.