What remains after the wave of WhatsApp studies in Brazil? This study aims to address this question by critically evaluating the body of research using WhatsApp in political communication, following its widespread adoption during the 2018 presidential elections, which resulted in the election of a far-right president. The methodology involves a systematic and bibliometric review of the field, guided by the following questions: I) What methodological advancements do these studies present? II) What theoretical dialogues are established? III) How do these studies engage with research on messaging apps conducted by scholars in the Global South? This reflection seeks to explore the challenges and paths ahead of this research area and tool, moving beyond the initial excitement that fueled its use as a research methodology.