Apr 27, 2017 05:16 PM
1118 Views
The concept of Whatsapp is not something new or innovative in anyways. There have always been many IRC channels and messaging softwares for the desktops. Where Whatsapp stood out from others is their ability to bring this concept down to mobile platforms at a time when smartphones where picking up in the market. They were just at the right place at the right time.
As SMS were charged, whatsapp became a good free alternative to SMS without having to pay additional charges when you have data enabled.
While the layout and design of the app is simple and easy to use even for a non technical guy, Whatsapp severely lacks in several additional contextual features that could make communicating through the app much more fun. With proper official API exposure, they could open up their platform for 3rd party developers thereby providing enriched user experiences. However, due to their(i.e their owner Facebook) severe lockdown approach, this would just remain a pipe dream.
The limiting of 200 members only per groups in Whatsapp is also something that severely handicaps the app. Definitely there needs to be an increase in these numbers.
Now on the user side, lots of misinformation spreads through this messaging app and there is little to no control on what gets spread. Whatsapp doesn't moderate its platform in anyways leading to fake news becoming rampant across the platform.
While there exists several other better chat app alternatives, due to the social effects where not much can happen without your friends being there in a social network, most of them remain ghost towns.
