Hasan Minhaj hosts podcast on long-distance love stories, "Started on WhatsApp"

New Delhi: Long-distance relationships can be ‘hard’ as the only thing connecting a couple is video calling. WhatsApp has joined hands with comedian Hasan Minhaj to bring these long-distance love stories to audiences in a new podcast.

WhatsApp has launched "Started on WhatsApp: Love Stories," where Hasan Minhaj talks to couples about making long-distance relationships work. One can listen to these stories on the WhatsApp channel. Four episodes, each over 20 minutes long, are available so far.

Minhaj is well-known for his Netflix special, The Patriot Act whose intro theme song has been a popular ringtone for multiple viewers across the world. 

What WhatsApp has tried to do through Minhaj is educate users about how to stay away from catfishing scams where someone pretends to be someone else online to trick you into falling in love with them or giving them money. Beware of the digital disguise!

Minhaj has acknowledged that catfishing scams occur on WhatsApp. In promoting his podcast, he emphasises the importance of being cautious with the tagline, "Rule #1: don’t get catfished." This highlights the need for vigilance in online interactions to avoid falling victim to such scams, as such scams are continuously deteriorating the trust of everyday users.

While Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha prefer Instagram and Snapchat, WhatsApp aims to hold onto the older users through the comedian.

WhatsApp in 2024 collaborated with BBDO India and launched a campaign emphasising user privacy. In October, they released several ads featuring stand-up comedians to raise awareness about online scams, especially during the festive season.