TikTok owner ByteDance launches Instagram competitor 'Whee'
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant which owns the popular video-sharing app TikTok, has quietly launched a new app called 'Whee', drawing comparisons to Meta's Instagram
ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant which owns the popular video-sharing app TikTok, has quietly launched a new app called 'Whee', drawing comparisons to Meta's Instagram.
The screenshots of the app shared online shows Whee having a familiar interface, reminiscent of Instagram, but with a more intimate twist, specifically tailored for sharing photos visible only to designated friends.
This glaring departure from Instagram's public account model, where posts are visible to all, marks an interesting differentiator for the app, according to the developer.
The friends-only approach is even emphasised in the screenshots, saying, "Share with friends only", "Made for friends", and "Like and comment only with friends", the report said.
According to the screenshots, the app has a simple user interface with three tabs for the camera, feed and messages.
It also features an Instagram-like notification button at the top.
The launch of Whee comes after ByteDance's recent launch of TikTok Notes, another Instagram-like app for sharing photos and texts.
It is unclear why the app's friends-only functionality couldn't be integrated into the Notes app, similar to how Instagram handles private and public accounts.
'Whee' is currently available for ready to use in over a dozen countries, including India and Brazil. It is however not yet accessible in the United States.
Attempts to log in after somehow downloading the app from the Google Play Store in the US resulted in an error message, and even using a virtual private network (VPN) proved unsuccessful, according to the report.
ByteDance hasn't confirmed when or if Whee will be available worldwide.
Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
Post Comments