WhatsApp, the popular instant messaging application, has dropped support for Android 4.4 KitKat in its latest updates.
This means that users of devices running on Android KitKat will no longer be able to use the application after the recent update. To address this issue, users will need to either switch to relatively newer devices or upgrade their operating systems if possible.
This decision comes in order to focus on supporting the application for modern operating systems, as the current usage percentage of Android KitKat stands at only about 0.5% of the total Android devices worldwide.
Additionally, supporting older operating systems consumes a significant amount of resources for tech companies. Consequently, redirecting these resources towards product development for users relying on newer OS versions becomes a priority.
Furthermore, Meta, the parent company of the WhatsApp platform, is currently working on enhancing the application's interface and regularly adding new features, along with bolstering security measures. Removing support for outdated systems enables the company to expedite the app's development process and improve the user experience.
Android KitKat 4.4 was released in 2013 and enjoyed substantial success in its time. However, Google discontinued its support a few months ago. Several other applications have also made the same decision, including the file storage application Dropbox and some Google apps like the messaging app.
Presently, to install WhatsApp, you must have Android 5.0 Lollipop or later.
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