Earlier this month, it was reported that WhatsApp would be implementing a new privacy policy that would essentially allow them to share data with Facebook. This has led to a lot of confusion as many were unaware of what exactly WhatsApp would be sharing, and many assumed the worst, which led to WhatsApp publishing an FAQ.
With WhatsApp announcing that they will soon start sharing data with Facebook, this has led to a bit of a panic where people are worried about what kind of data will be shared, and what it means for privacy. So much so that they have started to flock to other more privacy-based apps like Signal and Telegram.
As many of you might have heard by now, WhatsApp has made some changes to its privacy policy where it basically says that your data will be shared with Facebook. The company did previously allow users to opt out of the data-sharing a while ago, but now it looks like it’s either you share your data or you stop using the app.
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WhatsApp has long supported both voice and video calls on its mobile application, but for some reason it was never available through its desktop/web client. However, there is some good news on that front because according to WABetaInfo, it seems that the latest beta of WhatsApp for the desktop/web has gained voice and video call support.
It is no secret that Facebook is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, social media platform at the moment. Facebook plays home to a billion users, and it also owns other popular platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. Now it seems that the FTC is feeling that maybe Facebook has too much of a monopoly on social media, and wants to break them up.
While our phones are encrypted and prevents people from unlocking it unless we authorize them, that doesn’t mean that all our contents are 100% secure. This is why despite it sometimes being a bit redundant and inefficient, having extra layers of security might not be a bad idea, especially if you deal with sensitive information.
Like most messaging apps, WhatsApp is no stranger to spam and chances are, you’ve probably been on the receiving end of many forwarded photos and videos. If you didn’t set your WhatsApp settings correctly, all these forwarded photos and videos will be automatically downloaded and saved to your mobile device.
We all have that one friend or one relative that loves sending us all kinds of weird random crap on WhatsApp. Or sometimes there are group chats that just won’t keep quiet throughout the day. It can be annoying, which is why WhatsApp has a mute feature. Oddly enough, this mute feature was kind of limited.
WhatsApp has created the ability for companies and individuals to create business accounts which allows customers to reach out for questions, customer service, and so on. We’ve also seen how these business accounts can help facilitate purchase inquiries by previewing products, but that will change soon, and possibly for the better.
Last year it was revealed that WhatsApp for the iPad could be in the works. However, we haven’t heard anything since, but it has now been suggested that maybe it could be launching in the near future. This is based on a recent report in which it was revealed that WhatsApp could be working on allowing multiple devices to use the same number.
Unlike apps like LINE, Skype, Messenger, WhatsApp relies on a phone number as a personal identifier. This means that you are pretty much limited to just having WhatsApp on one device (not counting the web/desktop version of the app). This can be a bit troublesome if you own multiple devices that you’d like to receive messages on.
Facebook currently owns several methods of communication. They have Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, all of which allow users to message each other. However, accordion to a report from WABetaInfo, it seems that Facebook could be considering cross-platform messaging where users on Messenger could potentially communicate with users on WhatsApp.
WhatsApp has become more or less the de facto messenger service for many. However, while it is extremely popular, it does not necessarily mean that it is the best, and that there are other messaging apps that do come with better features, but the good news is that it looks like WhatsApp will be getting some of them now.
For a while now, Facebook has been trying to figure out a way to monetize WhatsApp. The company acquired WhatsApp several years ago in what some called one of the most expensive acquisitions in tech, but to date, Facebook has yet to charge users to use the service (although the idea of introducing ads has been floated in the past).
While we do give out our phone numbers quite a bit, it’s a different story when we willingly give it out versus having it listed without our knowledge or permission. Unfortunately for WhatsApp users, it seems that due to a privacy flaw, it accidentally exposed users’ phone numbers in Google search listings.