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OOH ADVERTISING

WhatsApp’s innovative billboard activation highlights key features

By our News Team | 2022

Prime Piccadilly Circus site in central London has been chosen by the platform to push its brand story and engage consumers. 

Along with Times Square in New York and Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, London’s Piccadilly Circus is one of the world’s prime sites for out-of-home (OOH) and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising.

Little wonder, when you consider that by some estimates Piccadilly Circus has around 100-million people passing through this famous intersection each year. Many are wealthy locals, while others are well-heeled foreign visitors out to see the sights of the British capital.

OOH Advertising

Photo credit: Supplied

Renting the high-profile digital billboards – there have been billboards on the site since 1908 – can set you back US$6-million a year, according to some industry sources.

One of the current OOH activations that is catching people’s attention at Piccadilly Circus is a 3D billboard ad for WhatsApp, which is being described by some marketing industry media outlets as “mind-bending”.

Promotes WhatsApp’s revamped privacy and safety features

It promotes the social media platform’s revamped privacy and safety features, as well as its messaging service.

“Following the introduction of three new features on WhatsApp, this campaign shows how WhatsApp’s features provide interlocking layers of protection and give users full control over the level of privacy they are seeking,” its Global Head of Brand, Vivian Odior said.

“With both outdoor and digital placements, we want to highlight the closeness that’s possible on WhatsApp when you can message confidently and worry-free in a secure space.”

Among the new innovations on WhatsApp that are being graphically illustrated to passers-by are: the ability to make once-off messages ‘disappear’ and with no capability for recipients to screenshot them; updated security features; and a reminder that messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning no third parties will be aware of them.

You can see the Piccadilly Circus OOH activation here.

The Meta-owned firm has also ‘taken over’ live streaming platform Twitch and online game Roblox in a series of week-long activations to mark the culmination of its long-running promotional push.



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Dr Kin Kariisa

Group CEO - Next Media

Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.