India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expanded his social media presence joining WhatsApp, a platform that has become a valuable campaigning tool for his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move allows the Prime Minister to reach out to millions of users directly.
The WhatsApp channel, created last week, quickly gained thousands of followers within minutes of its existence. Mr. Modi shared his first post on the channel, a photograph of himself sitting at a desk in the new Parliament building, along with a message in English expressing his excitement to join the WhatsApp community.
One important aspect of WhatsApp channels is that they are one-way communication platforms, meaning that subscribers can receive updates but cannot contact the channel owner directly. The Meta-owned firm, which operates WhatsApp, confirmed that the officials handling Mr. Modi’s broadcasts will not have access to subscribers’ phone numbers, except for those saved in their contacts.
India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with the app installed on nearly every smartphone in the country. The platform boasts around half a billion users in India, making it an ideal medium for the Prime Minister to connect with the masses.
It is worth noting that Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, recently denied reports that it was planning to introduce advertisements on the app to tap into its massive user base. This indicates that WhatsApp will continue to serve as a messaging platform without intrusive ads.
Prime Minister Modi already has a significant following on other social media platforms, with 48 million Facebook followers, 17.7 million YouTube subscribers, and 91.8 million followers on X (formerly Twitter). However, WhatsApp’s user base in India is on par with that of YouTube, making it a crucial tool for the Prime Minister’s outreach efforts.
In conclusion, Narendra Modi’s entry into WhatsApp marks a significant step in his continued efforts to engage with the public. By leveraging the platform’s extensive reach and popularity in India, the Prime Minister can now directly connect with millions of users, further strengthening his digital presence.
Definitions:
– Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): India’s ruling political party, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi belongs.
– Meta: The parent company of WhatsApp.
Sources:
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