Update 8.30am
WhatsApp returned to normal services after an outage lasting six hours. Facebook and Instagram also returned, which the social media giant blaming a "faulty configuration change" for an outage.
WhatsApp users are currently unable to send or receive messages due to a severe. The popular messaging services, along with Facebook and Instagram, is experiencing a global blackout which has left customers disconnected from their online lives.
Vodafone is also experiencing an outage as their customers are unable to access TV and internet.
The cause of the blackout is not yet confirmed, but it was first reported at 4.44pm this afternoon.
WhatsApp sent out a tweet at 5.16pm saying: "We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues with WhatsApp at the moment. We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience!"
WhatsApp have not given a time frame for when the messaging service will return. The last WhatsApp mass outage was back in March 2021. WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram were down for two hours. However, this most recent outage looks to be lasting well beyond the two hour mark.
While most customers are annoyed by the outage, some have taken to Twitter to see the funny side.
One Twitter user wrote: "WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are down so I'm having to send actual text messages like some kind of primitive savage"
Another joked: "Now is the best time to leave WhatsApp groups"
While another Tweeted: "How many of us have mindlessly opened WhatsApp around 20 times this afternoon even though you knew at 3pm it was down?"
For the latest updates on the outage, follow our LIVE BLOG
