Opinion: WhatsApp is a lifeline for two billion users. Facebook isn’t doing enough to protect it


By beating out competitors to rapidly grow its user base, Facebook’s "family of apps” - Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp - has amassed a reported more than 3.5 billion active monthly users. In return, the company should make every effort to ensure continuity of WhatsApp, which has been connecting billions of users, many mired in precarious life conditions. — Reuters

WhatsApp has become a lifeline for humanitarian aid and preserving ties between families torn asunder — making this month's hours-long shutdown of the app, alongside other Facebook products, more than a mere inconvenience.

Among Lebanon’s Syrian refugee households in 2017, 84% used WhatsApp to relay their needs to international organisations. The United Nations Development Program notes that real-time data shared by immigrants through the app is invaluable in bringing humanitarian aid to those in crisis, allowing continued communication between WhatsApp contacts after border crossings and with new phone numbers. Notices of safe zones or food and aid distribution points are shared rapidly.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Sirius XM found liable in New York lawsuit over subscription cancellations
US Supreme Court tosses case involving securities fraud suit against Facebook
Amazon doubles down on AI startup Anthropic with $4 billion investment
Factbox-Who are bankrupt Northvolt's creditors?
UK should use new powers to probe Apple-Google mobile browser duopoly, report says
EU regulators scrap probe into Apple's e-book rules after complaint was withdrawn
Hyundai recalls over 145,000 electrified US vehicles on loss of drive power
'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
Northvolt CEO steps down, saying group needs up to $1.2 billion
Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on $100,000

Others Also Read