(RightIsRight.co) – Beginning in May 2025, Big Tech giant WhatsApp will force millions of American iPhone users to upgrade their devices or lose access to the popular messaging app.
WhatsApp, which Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta owns, announced it would stop supporting older iPhone models, including the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Users of these devices will be locked out of the app unless they upgrade to newer, more expensive models capable of running iOS 15.1 or later.
By forcing devices to become obsolete, Meta will arm-twist millions of Americans who prefer to keep their older, reliable devices into buying the latest overpriced gadgets.
The timing of this announcement is particularly suspicious, coming just after Apple released its latest iPhone models.
WhatsApp claims this move is necessary to “leverage advanced technologies and APIs in newer iOS versions.”
For those unwilling or unable to upgrade, the only options are to switch to a different messaging app or lose access to their WhatsApp conversations and contacts.
This disruption could be particularly challenging for elderly Americans who rely on WhatsApp to stay connected with friends and family.
While WhatsApp offers ways to back up and transfer chat histories, these processes can be confusing and time-consuming, especially for less tech-savvy users.
WhatsApp issued a report, saying, “Currently, WhatsApp supports iOS 12 and later, but with a future update, the app will require iOS 15.1 or newer to work properly.”
“To help affected users adapt to this change, WhatsApp is providing a five-month notice period, giving them ample time to update their devices if possible or consider alternatives if their hardware does not support newer iOS versions,” the messaging app added.
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