social networking Archives

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

YouTube quietly revives in-app private messaging, six years after discontinuing it

YouTube is testing a revival of its in-app private messaging feature, nearly six years after it was discontinued due to low adoption rates. The new initiative allows users to share videos, Shorts, and live streams with friends and is currently limited to select markets and users aged 18 and older. Safeguards such as invite-only conversations, unsend options, and the ability to block or report inappropriate content are included. YouTube's initial messaging feature was launched in 2017 and discontinued in 2019. The renewed feature aims to enhance direct engagement for content creators and provide a streamlined way for regular users to converse about videos. The pilot phase is ongoing, with no timeline for a broader rollout announced yet. YouTube's move to reinstate private messaging aligns with current trends as it faces competition from platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

AppWizard

October 20, 2025

Meta to End Desktop Messenger Apps by December 2025

Meta Platforms Inc. will discontinue its standalone Messenger applications for Windows and macOS effective December 15, 2025, with the apps already removed from app stores. Users will be redirected to the web versions of Facebook and Messenger, although native app features will be lost. This shift is part of a broader strategy focusing on web-based access, potentially impacting businesses and remote workers who rely on desktop communication. Users are advised to back up chat histories and explore third-party alternatives before the deadline. The decision reflects Meta's strategic refocus towards mobile and web experiences, as well as emerging technologies.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

What Is XChat? Musk’s Private Messaging App With Blockchain-Style Encryption

XChat is an encrypted messaging and calling feature integrated into X (formerly Twitter), designed to enhance user privacy and functionality. It offers end-to-end encryption, self-destructing messages, versatile file sharing, and cross-platform audio and video calls without requiring a phone number for registration. Currently in beta testing for select paid subscribers, XChat aims to transform X into an “everything app” similar to WeChat, combining social networking, messaging, payments, and more while prioritizing user privacy. Developed using Rust, it employs public-key cryptography and may incorporate blockchain-inspired techniques for enhanced security. The platform seeks to merge social interaction with private communication and commerce, allowing for anonymous engagement. Challenges include ensuring reliable encryption, addressing metadata leaks, and gaining user trust to transition from established messaging apps.

AppWizard

October 7, 2025

Zoho’s Arattai messaging app needs to adopt THIS key WhatsApp security feature: Details inside

Arratai, an instant messaging app developed by Zoho, is rapidly gaining popularity as a Made in India alternative to WhatsApp, reaching the top of the social networking category on app stores. However, it lacks end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for text messaging, which could deter users concerned about message security. While E2EE is available for video and voice calls, the absence for text messaging raises privacy concerns. Zoho's co-founder Sridhar Vembu has reassured users about data privacy and has reported a significant increase in daily sign-ups from 3,000 to 350,000 in just three days. The app's branding as a spyware-free, made-in-India messaging platform is resonating with users, especially following endorsements from public figures and tech advocates. Despite its growth, Arratai is facing infrastructure challenges, including delayed one-time passwords (OTPs) and slower contact synchronization, which Zoho is working to address.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

Made In India Arattai vs Meta’s WhatsApp: What’s Different And Same Between These Two Messenger Apps – Features, Release Date, User Experience, More

The Arattai app, launched in 2021 by Zoho, has gained significant popularity by 2025, becoming a leading name in social networking and topping App Store charts. In comparison, WhatsApp was founded in 2009 and became part of Meta in 2014. Arattai features a clean and intuitive interface with sections like Meetings, Pocket, and Mentions, while WhatsApp's interface is more basic. Key features of Arattai include a Meetings section for recording, a Pocket for personal storage, enhanced location sharing until reaching a destination, a Mentions tab for tagged messages, and multi-device support, including Android TV. WhatsApp currently offers end-to-end encryption, while Arattai is developing similar security measures.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

‘We have faced a 100x increase in Arattai traffic in…,’ says Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas reacts

Arratai, an instant messaging app developed by Zoho, has quickly become the top app in the social networking category on app stores, experiencing a surge in traffic by 100 times in three days. Daily sign-ups rose from 3,000 to 350,000 in this period. Zoho is enhancing its infrastructure to handle the influx of users and is addressing technical challenges caused by this rapid growth. Initially launched in 2021 as an experimental project, Arattai has gained popularity due to its focus on data privacy and being a "spyware-free, made-in-India" platform. The app offers features such as one-to-one and group chats, voice and video calls, and is compatible with multiple devices. While it currently provides end-to-end encryption for calls, chat encryption is still in development. Zoho is working to resolve issues like delayed OTPs and slower contact synchronization as the app's user base expands.

AppWizard

September 30, 2025

Zoho’s Arattai messenger tops Indian app charts, challenges WhatsApp’s dominance

Arattai, a messaging app developed by Zoho, has reached the top of the Social Networking category on India's App Store, experiencing a 100-fold increase in daily sign-ups from approximately 3,000 to over 350,000 in three days. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan supports Arattai as a local alternative to international messaging services. The app includes features such as one-to-one and group chats, text and voice notes, media sharing, audio/video calls, end-to-end encryption for audio and video calls, multi-device support, and is designed to work on lower-end smartphones in low-bandwidth environments. Despite its success, Arattai faces challenges in competing with WhatsApp, which has over 500 million users in India, and must convert downloads into a strong user base while addressing feature gaps, particularly regarding text message encryption.

AppWizard

September 29, 2025

Arattai tops App Store social networking chart: What Zoho’s messaging platform offers, is it free| FAQs Explained

India's messaging platform Arattai has reached the top of the Social Networking category on the App Store, experiencing an increase in daily sign-ups from 3,000 to 350,000 in three days. Launched in January 2021 by Zoho Corporation, Arattai offers a secure, Indian-made alternative to WhatsApp, aligning with the government's self-reliance initiative. It has received endorsements from figures like Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who praised it as free, easy-to-use, and secure. Zoho's co-founder announced infrastructure enhancements to accommodate potential user surges. Arattai allows users to send messages, make calls, and share media across multiple devices, and is free to use. Currently, it does not support importing chats from other apps.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Russian ‘Orthodox WhatsApp’ Debuts Without Church’s Endorsement

A new messaging application called Zosima has been launched on Google Play, initially intended for release in November 2024 but made available early on September 23. Developed by the Innotech XXI Foundation, Zosima aims to connect parishioners with local churches but has evolved into a broader social networking platform. Officials from the Russian Orthodox Church have distanced themselves from the app, stating they were not consulted during its development. The church's spokesperson, Vakhtang Kipshidze, expressed skepticism about the initiative. Zosima is named after a sixth-century monastic saint and is open to individuals of all faiths, but cannot be considered Orthodox without endorsement from Patriarch Kirill. An official presentation for the app is scheduled for October 30. The launch occurs amid increasing restrictions on Western technology platforms in Russia, with WhatsApp remaining the most widely used messaging service despite limitations. The Russian Orthodox Church had previously launched its own messenger app in 2017, connecting 130,000 users with 15,000 churches.

AppWizard

September 15, 2025

Hike, once India’s unicorn messaging app, shuts down after gaming ban

Indian messaging app Hike, founded in 2012 by Kavin Bharti Mittal, once competed with WhatsApp and reached over 100 million users but faced decline due to global competitors. In 2021, Hike shifted focus from messaging to mobile gaming and launched a platform called Rush. The introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, which banned real-money gaming platforms, led to the company's final shutdown. Mittal stated that scaling Hike's U.S. business would require significant resources, which he deemed inefficient. Hike's closure highlights the challenges tech startups face in regulatory and competitive environments.