Hold on and read the WhatsApp Privacy Policy first!

With a user base of 20 million, WhatsApp Messenger, the adopted child of Facebook, has come up with a new update – an update in its privacy policy. While most of us have already tapped our thumbs on “Accept”, we still need to give it a second thought as to what this privacy policy up-gradation is all about.

Read: WHATSAPP LAUNCHES DYNAMIC FEATURES IN ITS NEW UPDATE

WhatsApp has updated its privacy policy, and users have time until February 8 to accept the new terms and conditions. But before letting our personal storage, “Agree & Accept” this, hold on and read this first!

WHAT THE POLICY IS ALL ABOUT? 

The new policy talks about WhatsApp service and how the foster child of Facebook shares data with it. It included the perk offered to WhatsApp business accounts who can now use Facebook to store and manage their WhatsApp chat. Above all, how Facebook’s foster child helps it in integrations across various Facebook profiles.

The new policy update has undergone sensationalism since the time it has sprouted. By talking about data sharing with Facebook but without giving the details users need, has also given rise to a lot of false information.

DID THESE CROSS YOUR MIND TOO? | WHATSAPP’S NEW PRIVACY POLICY

Quest. Is WhatsApp leaking your beloved invaluable chats including the treasure of photos, videos, voice messages to somebody? Or worse – misusing it?

Ans. Naah! Well, WhatsApp is least interested in doing that. Going by logic, each and every chat on WhatsApp Messenger is end-to-end encrypted. Therefore, the information stays among the people who are communicating and no third party application can access it.

Ques. Is WhatsApp tracking me and all my contacts?

Ans. WhatsApp right now:

Unlike your chats, locations are accessed by WhatsApp only with the due permission of the user. Now, informing all this to Dad Facebook depends entirely on good boy WhatsApp. The privacy policy, as of now, has kept a lid on this.

Ques. Will WhatsApp be showing ads in its next update?

Ans. Not for now. WhatsApp hasn’t given any official statement. Also, since its adoption by Facebook, it hasn’t shown any despite the exchange of metadata. Hence, as of now, the stars seem aligned that the advertisement business won’t be taken up by WhatsApp in the near future.

Ques. What is Metadata? Should you be worried if WhatsApp is sharing this data?

Ans. Messaging Metadata consists of information that WhatsApp processes to convey your messages or calls and it includes information such as your user ID and the time you send a message.

This data can be accessed by the government, law authorities, and WhatsApp advertisers. Consequently, here comes Facebook, which earns a big chunk of its revenue from advertisements. This very clause of the privacy policy has brassed a majority of users.

A point to be noted here is that this collecting and sharing of metadata in exchange for free services is happening on web browsers like Google Chrome and other social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

To know more about Metadata, read this.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVES? | WHATSAPP’S NEW PRIVACY POLICY

Although for most of us, WhatsApp has become a part of our DNA, other messaging apps are still in the game. However, all of a dither, users are seen shifting to many such apps given to WhatsApp’s new privacy policy.

Telegram is a case in point. Having a user base of 400 million, it allows users to download movies, e-Newspapers, magazine editions, and whatnot. In addition, with exclusive features, the application does seem promising.

Signal, an application with a userbase of around 20 million has been in speculation since WhatsApp released its privacy policy. In addition, the application might get a bang for a buck in the near future.

While things are still uncertain, WhatsApp Messenger with its userbase of 2 billion still rules the roost given its features.

WhatsApp right now:

Source: Last modified: January 04, 2021 (archived versions) WhatsApp Privacy Policy