iWorld
WhatsApp partners with OML to raise privacy awareness
Mumbai: WhatsApp has collaborated with Only Much Louder (OML), a market-leading, full-service creative and entertainment business network for #MessagePrivately, a consumer awareness partnership focused on the importance of privacy in our lives. The collaboration has led to the production of ‘WhatsApp GoodMornings’ social series with Zakir Khan, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Aakash Gupta, and Gurleen Pannu, who talk about their experiences and light-hearted moments when sharing ‘Good Morning’ messages on WhatsApp from family and friends.
This partnership with the talented bunch of comedians brilliantly combined humour and relatability, leveraging the power of comedians, who resonate with millennials, to deliver content that is both informative and entertaining. With each comedian bringing their unique style, the films highlighted the importance of privacy in our digital interactions, all while delivering light-hearted and engaging storytelling.
It aimed to familiarise key audiences with privacy features related to messaging through some of their favourite comedians. The in-house team tapped into the potential of ‘Good morning’ messages to translate their power into a successful social media marketing collaboration for WhatsApp while seamlessly blending its creative expertise through four films and memes into the ‘WhatsApp GoodMornings’ IP series.
With cheeky wordplay that celebrated his beloved plant, Biswa Kalyan Rath kicked off this partnership by talking about the wrath of spam callers and how to not let them ruin our ‘budding’ happiness. Zakir Khan, with his innovative storytelling, educated his father about dodging over-enthusiastic scammers through the ‘Block And Report’ feature while simultaneously taking a playful jab at singlehood.
Gurleen Pannu taught her overprotective mother how to not let hackers get to chats with WhatsApp’s two-step verification feature. Lastly, Aakash Gupta, with his signature interactive style and wit, explained to viewers the importance of buying products from vendors with a Meta Verified Badge while brewing his first cup of Colombian coffee.
Meta director of consumer marketing Vyom Prashant said, “’Privacy is at the core of WhatsApp. Over the years, we have added layers of security and protection with innovative features that empower our users to communicate securely & confidently on WhatsApp, including engaging with businesses they choose to. ‘Good Morning’ messages on WhatsApp is a shared experience for our users across India, and we partnered with OML to build upon this familiar concept, with humour and levity to explain how easy it is to protect oneself from spam and scams on WhatsApp.”
Only Much Louder SVP of revenue Pankaj Malani said, “The team at OML Studios wanted to elevate the conversation about how WhatsApp is protecting its users’ conversations with loved ones from unwanted scammers. We set out to blend humour with purpose and highlight the importance of privacy while messaging in a light-hearted and relatable manner. We leveraged the intimacy that ‘Good Morning’ messages hold for everyone and kicked off the series with an amazing pool of talent, crafting engaging narratives that resonated with diverse audiences. Each message was designed to not only create awareness but also to foster connection, ensuring that every ‘Good Morning’ message resonated with warmth, all while underscoring the important role that privacy plays in our digital interactions.”
By celebrating the simple joy of good morning messages, this partnership reminded viewers of the love and support that surrounds them, transforming ordinary mornings into meaningful moments of connection. Ultimately, this collaboration highlighted WhatsApp’s privacy features that help people connect with their loved ones safely and securely and demystify privacy in a simplified manner that resonates with audiences. It also fostered a community that values both authentic communication and privacy in the digital age.
iWorld
Netflix cuts jobs in product division amid restructuring
Layoffs hit creative studio unit as leadership and strategy shifts unfold.
MUMBAI: The streaming wars may be fought on screen, but the latest plot twist is unfolding behind the scenes. Netflix has reportedly begun laying off several dozen employees from its product division as part of an internal reorganisation, according to a report by Variety. The cuts are believed to have primarily affected the company’s creative studio unit, which works on marketing assets such as in app trailers, promotional visuals and live experience content for the streaming platform.
The company has not disclosed the exact number of employees impacted.
According to the report, the layoffs were not tied to employee performance. Instead, the restructuring eliminated certain roles while other employees were reassigned to different teams within the organisation.
The roles affected are understood to include designers, producers and creative specialists responsible for marketing and brand experience initiatives.
The job cuts come as Netflix adjusts its leadership structure and reshapes its product and creative teams. Last month, Elizabeth Stone was promoted from chief technology officer to chief product and technology officer, giving her oversight of product, engineering and data operations across the company.
Earlier, in December 2025, Netflix also appointed Martin Rose as head of creative for global brand and partnerships, a move seen as part of a broader restructuring of the company’s brand and product functions.
Despite the layoffs, Netflix remains one of the largest employers in the streaming sector. The company is estimated to employ around 16,000 people globally, with roughly 70 percent of its workforce based in the United States and Canada. In 2023, the company reported approximately 13,000 employees, indicating that its headcount had grown significantly before the latest restructuring.
The workforce changes arrive at a time when Netflix is navigating a shifting financial and strategic landscape in the global entertainment industry.
The streaming giant recently secured $2.8 billion in additional cash after receiving a breakup fee from Paramount Skydance following its withdrawal from a deal involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Netflix co chief executive Ted Sarandos explained that the company had evaluated multiple scenarios during the negotiations but chose not to match the competing offer once it learned that a higher bid had been submitted.
Netflix had capped its offer at $27.75 per share and ultimately stepped back rather than pursue Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition deal, which included a personal guarantee.
Sarandos also cautioned that the financing structure behind the Paramount Skydance transaction could have ripple effects across the entertainment industry.
According to him, the debt heavy deal could trigger significant cost cutting, with David Ellison, chief executive of Paramount Skydance, expected to eliminate about $16 billion in costs and potentially cut thousands of jobs as part of the integration process.
For Netflix, the current restructuring appears to be part of a broader attempt to streamline operations while continuing to invest in product, technology and global content even as the streaming industry enters a new phase of consolidation and financial discipline.
