Keeping pace with technology’s rapid advancements can be quite challenging.
If someone had suggested a decade ago that Apple would unveil a Vision Pro headset enabling interactions with digital content within physical spaces, it might have seemed far-fetched.
With technology advancing at a swift pace each year, it’s understandable that some individuals have opted out of keeping up with the latest gadgets.
However, if you own an older cellphone and regularly use WhatsApp, it might be time to consider purchasing a new device.
Why, you might wonder? Because starting tomorrow (January 1), certain older devices will lose access to WhatsApp services.
The app is updating its compatibility requirements, affecting older operating systems, particularly Android KitKat OS.
Phones still operating on KitKat, which debuted over a decade ago, will be unable to use WhatsApp by 2025.
However, according to Metro Online, updating your device to a more recent OS might keep you in the clear if you still run KitKat.
Among the Android devices impacted by this update are:
Additionally, older iPhones will also face this change in 2025.
Starting May 5, iPhones operating on iOS 15.1 or older versions will lose WhatsApp access.
Devices still using this iOS include the iPhone 5s; iPhone 6; and iPhone 6 Plus.
Following the announcement regarding Androids and KitKat, some users expressed their amazement on social media that WhatsApp had supported the OS for so long.
“Holy sh*t they were still supporting KitKat,” remarked one Reddit user.
Others humorously noted that if your device is still running KitKat, it might be overdue for an upgrade anyway.
A Reddit user commented: “If you’re running android that old, you might as well just use public Twitter posts to communicate because that phone is about as insecure as it can get.”