REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Whatsapp users in Indonesia warned one another to be wary of pornographic GIF format content in the messaging application.
The warning has went viral and caused an uproar in the society a couple of days after the application paralyzed on Friday (Nov. 3).
A Bekasi, West Java resident, Donny, shared a petition against Whatsapp developer to remove inappropriate GIF pictures to his high school alumni group.
"The concern are growing as many Indonesian children, including my sons, communicate with Whatsapp," he said to Republika.co.id, on Sunday (Nov. 5) night.
The app is estimated to have 1.3 billion users worldwide.
The developer stated Whatsapp rating is a 4+. In its Terms of Service, WhatsApp's minimum age of use is 13 years old.
Meanwhile, net-aware.org.uk surveyed nearly 700 parents through YouGov in January 2017. Their independent panel recommend the right age is 14.
About 25 percent of parents reported seeing sexual content on Whatsapp.
GIF format displays moving images, similar to video despite its short duration. It is just like emoji that can not be removed or set to be blocked in Whatsapp application.
GIF format featured in Whatsapp since November 2016.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika
