Advantages and Disadvantages of WhatsApp

People use WhatsApp as their preferred method of texting all over the world. And this was made possible by the frequent addition of useful new features to the app. Do you not, however, believe that WhatsApp has fundamentally altered our lives to the point where, should WhatsApp go offline, people will react violently? It is for this reason that this article will discuss the new features that WhatsApp has added to its platform as well as the effects that WhatsApp has had, both positive and negative, on our lives.

WhatsApp Features

Today, everyone actively uses WhatsApp for a variety of purposes. Over 12 billion messages have been sent through WhatsApp in India alone, according to GrabOn's analysis of the Indian internet market. Let's look at the various features that WhatsApp has added to see how they helped make all of this possible:

• Via a desktop app, make voice and video calls.
• Messages That Disapear.
• View Only Once.
• Backups for end-to-end chats.
• Before sharing a video, turn off the audio.

Advantages of WhatsApp

1. Sharing Information

The best platform for sharing and accessing information is WhatsApp. WhatsApp is the best platform for sharing any kind of news or information, whether a New York Times article or a doggo meme (millennial language coming through!).

According to a study by the Reuters Institute, WhatsApp is quickly taking over as a top news source in many nations. 51% of them in Malaysia claimed to use WhatsApp to get news. Large files, including documents and images, can be easily sent across.

2. Electronic Learning

WhatsApp has recently evolved into a fictitious e-learning platform. In addition to sharing notes and information, teachers can create learning videos or share YouTube videos in WhatsApp groups. Talk about versatility! Teachers and students can create online classrooms using WhatsApp's video call feature.

3. Protection and Confidentiality

Personal information is much more secure because of WhatsApp's secure end-to-end encryption feature. Unknown and malicious individuals can be blocked from sending you messages.

4. Facilitates Global Connection

WhatsApp facilitates communication between friends and family members who live in different countries and continents thanks to internet messaging and the later addition of voice and video calls. You can send audio recordings, images, and more to your friends and family using WhatsApp, even if you are miles apart.

5. There Are No Ads

WhatsApp does not bombard you with advertisements like other social platforms do thanks to its policy against advertising.

6. Possibility for business

It is common knowledge that social media is used in the modern online business environment. The widespread use of WhatsApp has made product promotion simpler. People now have more opportunities to support themselves through creative means as a result of this.

7. It's cost-free

WhatsApp has always been a free app to use since it was first released. You can send messages to anyone, anywhere, with just an internet connection.

Disadvantages of WhatsApp

1. A Means of Spreading False Information

It's not surprising that some people use the app to spread false information to the general public to advance their political ideologies. WhatsApp has also disseminated hate speech directed at specific people and governmental organizations.

And it doesn't just stop with the news; individuals also get messages that contain inaccurate information about everyday matters. People, for instance, received several false treatment suggestions on Whatsapp during the Covid-19 pandemic, which either did nothing or worsened people's conditions.

2. Leads to Issues with Mental Health

The social isolation of young people has been exacerbated by WhatsApp. Rather than speaking to people in person, they would rather be on their phone. Self-esteem is impacted, and self-doubt develops as a result.

3. Problems Associated with Health

It has been proven by numerous studies that teenagers' health issues are exacerbated by WhatsApp. WhatsApp is a contributing factor in a lot of issues, including sleep deprivation (due to constant chatting) and eye strain.

4. Sexual Stimulation

The chat between two people on WhatsApp can remain unrecorded and unsupervised due to the various security features the app offers, which is possibly one of its scariest aspects. Anyone can delete any messages sent back and forth between two people, from disappearing messages to the "delete for everyone" option. Mal intentional adults could use all these characteristics to groom a child sexually. And the parent might not learn about it.

5. No Content Censorship

A lot of inappropriate information and media can be shared because WhatsApp does not censor the types of content shared. Teenagers' personal information can also be used as a form of blackmail, and no one will ever know about it unless the teenagers themselves report it.

6. Financial Fraud

The platform can be used by users to make money by taking advantage of young boys and girls. Teenagers who turn to asking for money in exchange for false promises may also become involved in fraud because of how easy it is to send and receive payments.

Like most things, WhatsApp has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages. Although the user can choose how to use their app, WhatsApp has many advantageous features. How each individual uses WhatsApp and its recently added features is up to them. It's important for people to realise that this app was created to help people communicate effectively by bridging information gaps and barriers. The results that have a negative impact on the user are largely dependent on how they use the app. In this regard, it is crucial that we adults interact with teenagers.