For those not in the know, WhatsApp is a popular instant messaging application owned by the FaceBook Company that allows users to chat, send messages, pictures and videos.
If you wondering why I am currently not on WhatsApp and why all the messages you are sending me there have a single tick and last seen features shows I was last seen a long time ago; there’s a perfectly good reason for it and no, its not because I use the “cheaters” version of WhatsApp with modifications that allow you to hide your online status or keep it fixed at an old date and view others status updates without being seen, oh and seeing deleted messages and statuses using the anti-revoke feature.
My mobile number got banned from accessing WhatsApp.
Please Note: I did not get banned for using the cheaters version of WhatsApp because I wasn’t using it. Matter of fact I wish I had been because:
- I would understand clearly why I got banned. WhatsApp does not like its subscribers using the tricked-out versions 3rd party versions of WhatsApp with all sorts of added mods and that might ban you from WhatsApp.
- Some versions of modded WhatsApp claim to have an Anti-ban feature which would mean WhatsApp cant ban you. (It doesnt work when your number is already banned though, I tried)
- So far, people who got banned from WhatsApp platform for using modded versions of WhatsApp usually get a temporary ban with a clock showing how long you have been locked out of WhatsApp for and one can usually correct this by uninstalling the modded version and reinstalling the official version from WhatsApp.
How did I get banned?
I have no idea I just picked up my phone and noticed a message that said my phone had been logged out of WhatsApp and I needed to verify my nmber to access WhatsApp services.
I punched in my number and pressed verify and that’s when I saw the notification that my number had been banned from WhatsApp and that I needed to contact support.
Obviously this must have been some sort of mistake as I like to think of myself as a model citizen usually sticking to the rules unless they don’t make sense….
What did I do about it?
I pressed the contact support button and ended up on an email tab so I could email support. I wrote a short email that my number had been banned from WhatsApp and that I should contact support then I waited and waited and waited…..
Several hours later a reply popped through citing rather vaguely that I had been in violation of WhatsApp’s terms and conditions
Naturally I send another email, stating there must be an mistake and asked for clarity on what exactly I had done to get banned or if I could appeal the action since well WhatsApp has become a rather important means of communication, I might have even begged a little and promised to never do what I had done again, if they could unban my number.
As soon as I pressed send I got an automated response that the WhatsApp Bots had given their judgement and there would be no further appeal.
That is that and that’s that….. looks like I am going to need a new WhatsApp number (unless of course you know a work around)
Why did I get banned?
Crazy thing is I had no idea, no indication, no warning, why this happened to me, but hey we agreed to this its in the terms of service that they can terminate service without prior indication .
When you are not on WhatsApp it’s a bit difficult to tell who else is not on WhatsApp, I reached out to a fellow WhatsApp group member asking them to forward a message to the group on my behalf that I would be unable to conduct a WhatsApp Masterclass that I was set to host and was surprised to learn that they too had been banned. A short while later we had discovered that all the members of the group had been banned….
Turns out one group member had thought it would be creatively fun to change the group name to a rather malicious sounding pun which I wont repeat because I don’t want to give anyone any ideas.
After I got banned I Googled WhatsApp bans and it looks like in a bid to curb “misuse” of WhatsApp platform they ban all the users in groups with names or group profile pictures which indicate the group might be violating the WhatsApp terms of service
That’s how I got banned from WhatsApp kinda I feel kinda like a gangster since I haven’t been banned from anything before, wait I got banned from a night-club after an incident of being caught trying to sneak in our own liquor than buy their over-prized beverages, in my defence we were young and stupid, maybe I will share the experience in an upcoming festive spirit post *saves it to drafts*
~B
On the upside I will now quietly exit groups which I could not leave before because didnt want people getting notifications that I had left
Becoming The Muse 
Your thoughts.. if you will?