The traditional "Hamburger menu" can present accessibility challenges due to its placement at the top of the screen.
The rise of the Bottom Navigation bar positions essential app functions along the bottom of the screen for easier navigation.
WhatsApp replaces the Hamburger menu with a Bottom Navigation bar to enhance usability and streamline interaction within the app.
While this shift prioritizes accessibility, it may make certain features less discoverable, but WhatsApp strategically uses the Bottom Navigation bar to promote its new Communities feature.