WhatsApp Resembling Modern Family Players In New Ads

Modern Family is an advertisement for Whatsapp (photo: x @fabyolleverass)

JAKARTA - Meta spent a large amount of money to re-collect several members of the Modern Family cast in WhatsApp's latest ads. The ad is aimed at promoting WhatsApp to families who use iPhone and Android devices mixes, in order to avoid the "green bubble" issue and restrictions on Apple's MMS group message solution.

For iPhone users in the United States, they often avoid inviting Android friends into group chats, as they will switch from iMessage to MMS which limits message functions such as read receipts, encryption, and full-resolution images.

WhatsApp highlighted the issue directly in its ads, with Julie Bowen (Dunphy's client) explaining to Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett) that "fammy photos" and "strange likes" are the reasons why she was not invited to group chats after switching to Android phones.

"Don't make this family's mistakes - switch to WhatsApp for smooth and private messages across all types of mobile phones," reads the tagline of the ad, which also features Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy) and Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker).

This WhatsApp ad comes as Apple starts adding support for the Rich Communication Services (RCS) in iOS 18 to replace the old SMS standard. Although Apple will introduce RCS, Meta ads still emphasize issues that have long been going on regarding "green bubbles" in messages, although WhatsApp may only have a few months to make the points before RCS support becomes available on iOS 18.

Apple barely paid attention to its RCS plans in their WWDC main event earlier this month, and much remains known about the implementation of the RCS on iOS 18. However, RCS support in iOS 18 remains a big thing that might make WhatsApp increasingly difficult to convince iPhone users to switch to their platform.

For Modern Family fans, seeing some of the original cast back together for this short moment provides a pleasant reminder of the event's legacy, although there are no plans for a Modern Family reboot announced by the Hollywood Reporter after the show ended four years ago.