TikTok's sister app LetsChat shuts down in Africa

LetsChat, the instant messaging app owned by TikTok's parent company ByteDance, has been shut down. Launched specifically for the African market, LetsChat aimed to become the go-to platform for young people, offering an alternative to the dominant WhatsApp and Telegram.

“This decision was made after careful consideration and evaluation of our strategic business objectives. We appreciate that LetsChat has been a valuable communication tool for many individuals and businesses, and we are thankful for the opportunity to have served our users in the country,” a ByteDance spokesperson told Rest of World.

Though LetsChat amassed close to seven million downloads, with a strong user base in Nigeria, Mali, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire, its popularity waned. Sensor Tower data paints a worrying picture, showing a 30% year-on-year download drop in 2022.

On Wednesday, when Bendada.com checked, the platform was removed from Google and Apple Playstores. As stated on the website, the reward tasks will also be discontinued, users have since received credits for their completed tasks.