WhatsApp down: Chat app users fume as huge outage left thousands scrambling for solution
WhatsApp is owned by Mark Zuckerberg's Meta
PA
Thousands of WhatsApp users had their conversations interrupted by an outage at around 4pm, as messaging service users flocked to social media for advice.
Many panicked users reported frantically turning their mobile data on and off, or scrambling over to the wifi box, only to find out there was nothing untoward on their end.
One user summed up the group migration to Twitter: “Just came here to find out if WhatsApp is down… I got my answer.”
Another said: "WhatsApp down again, ur wifi is fine."
WhatsApp said in a statement on Twitter: "We’re working quickly to resolve connectivity issues with WhatsApp and we’ll update you here as soon as possible."
The company later added: "And we're back, happy chatting!"
WhatsApp is now reportedly back online
PA
The website Downdetector has so far registered over 150,000 reports of outages on WhatsApp.
Downdetector also noticed an uptick in Instagram and Facebook outage reports.
Some users were glad for a period respite from WhatsApp.
One user commented: "Please wait to connect it, we had an argument with my girl and she was winning, wait as I look for solutions."
Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp are all run by Zuckerberg's Meta
PA
The WhatsApp Twitter account replied with some relationship advice: "Lead with "I'm sorry" it never fails."
Speculation is already rife on social media as to the cause of such a system outage.
One user warned: "Aliens are taking control of WhatsApp and other social media platforms.
"Mark my words major collapse soon."
Another joked: "According to reports, the reason why WhatsApp is down is that their cables got destroyed yesterday by one of Kai Harvetz's shots."
The app is used by around 2billion people worldwide.