The mobile messaging app, WhatsApp has been in a soup ever since it released its latest privacy policy update. The application notifies the users to either accept the new terms and service or simply delete their accounts, reported The Indian Express.
According to Hindustan Times, the updated WhatsApp Terms and Conditions read:
Image Source
“As part of the Facebook Companies, WhatsApp receives information from and shares information (see here) with, the other Facebook Companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products.”
With the apprehension that the app might share the user’s data with Facebook, its parent company, people have been skeptical of using it anymore. And amid all the confusion whether to believe the information or not, people have been looking for alternative applications like Signal and Telegram to stay connected with their friends and family in case the rumour holds any water.
And while people were still trying to get to the bottom of this chaos, business magnate Elon Musk tweeted ‘Use Signal’.
Use Signal
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021
Soon after his tweet, several people recommended we switch from WhatsApp to Telegram.
Why not Telegram!
— Amit Bhawani (@amitbhawani) January 7, 2021
Signal is owned by Twitter and monitored. While open source it is not as secure as they say. Use telegram.
— Steve Struyk (@RebelOutlaw1990) January 7, 2021
After seeing the WA update, I’m like: pic.twitter.com/GA24xzzCh3
— Manish Rath (@manishrath) January 7, 2021
And within moments, the debate regarding which of these two applications is better took a meme-licious turn. Take a look at some of them here:
— Telegram Messenger (@telegram) January 10, 2021
#WhatsApp is betting on the fact that most people won’t have a problem shitting in the open. https://t.co/JWiASKzQuw
— Akash Banerjee (@TheDeshBhakt) January 11, 2021
Life as it turns out! #WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/PjruRkUHAH
— Navneet Mathur (@navmathur) January 11, 2021
The train from #WhatsApp to #Telegram pic.twitter.com/TCzZmRR24L
— 𝐃𝐚𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐧 (ڈار فیضان) (@DarFaizan55) January 10, 2021
For easier understanding 😁! #WhatsApp #WhatsappNewPolicy pic.twitter.com/cyDyPzhHsC
— saawla_ladka (@saagar_pm) January 10, 2021
deleted #WhatsApp & installed the #SignalApp 😎 pic.twitter.com/W2k0ASVvhq
— J Emerson🗯 (@j8merson) January 10, 2021
#SignalApp croses #WhatsApp in top charts#MarkZuckerberg – pic.twitter.com/45LoMXDGZG
— Rutvik10 (@rutvikped10) January 10, 2021
I didn't read I just clicked accept #whatsapp #telegram pic.twitter.com/4fx15QEuAG
— Gift_Kabini (@REV_GIFT) January 10, 2021
After reading WhatsApp privacy update… #WhatsappNewPolicy #WhatsappPrivacy #WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/SXAX44RtUR
— Tribhuvan Garewal (@TGarewal) January 11, 2021
Me to whatsapp after downloading telegram: pic.twitter.com/y7MRooLjq2
— م سے مریم مغل🙂 (@MirzaSorat) January 8, 2021
Telegram's owner after WhatsApp's new privacy policy pic.twitter.com/1x5pF2swsL
— Malangni 💫 (@NotUrElephanto) January 8, 2021
For #WhatsApp #WhatsappNewPolicy Everybody Reaction 😁😁👇👇 pic.twitter.com/RJaYRS0O6N
— Meme_Creatoor (@memecreatoor) January 11, 2021
People delete #WhatsApp after New User Policy and join #Telegram.
Telegram: pic.twitter.com/UqmMiKCHWE
— Sagar Mavani (@SagarMavani_) January 8, 2021
Apparently, after Musk’s cryptic tweet another company with the same name attracted a lot of traction with people subscribing to its stock.
— K10✨💛✨ (@Kristennetten) January 7, 2021
Jokes apart, if you still can’t decide what to do with the messaging app then take a look at this Twitter thread by Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp.
I've been watching a bunch of discussion this week about the privacy policy update we’re in the process of making @WhatsApp and wanted to share some thoughts.
Thread 👇
— Will Cathcart (@wcathcart) January 8, 2021
Commenting on the issue, WhatsApp said in a statement that the update does not change WhatsApp’s data sharing practices with Facebook and does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family wherever they are in the world.
Further emphasising on the issue, Niamh Sweeney, WhatsApp’s director of policy for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa tweeted this thread:
1/5 I don't usually tweet about work-related issues, but this one is important:
— Niamh Sweeney (@NiamhSweeneyNYC) January 7, 2021
Don’t fall for misinformation, guys. Do some research and take your call.