WhatsApp, the popular messaging app owned by Meta, has reached a significant milestone in the United States, with 100 million monthly active users across the country. This achievement is a notable one, especially considering that WhatsApp was not widely used in the US just a few years ago.
To celebrate this milestone, Meta has launched a targeted PR campaign, including a 200-foot bubble installation between the Apple and Samsung stores in The Americana Mall in Los Angeles. The stunt is likely a nod to the company’s efforts to promote WhatsApp as a solution to the frustration of incompatible devices, particularly between iPhone and Android users.
According to Meta, a survey commissioned by the company found that one in four Americans don’t communicate with a close friend or family member as regularly due to incompatible devices. While the survey’s findings may be taken with a grain of salt, the issue of device compatibility is a real one, and WhatsApp’s ability to provide a seamless experience across different phone models is a major advantage.
As someone who has used WhatsApp regularly since moving to the UK, I can attest to the app’s ease of use and convenience. With features like easy reactions and formatting, as well as the ability to communicate with friends and family internationally without incurring extra charges, WhatsApp has become an essential tool for staying in touch with loved ones.
Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has long been a proponent of WhatsApp’s benefits, and has even gone so far as to claim that his company’s products are superior to those of rival Apple. With WhatsApp’s growing popularity in the US, it will be interesting to see how the company continues to promote the app and its features to American users.
