Is it time to uninstall WhatsApp?

[Renampun]

*uninstall WhatsApp is still heavy for me...
my whole near and far family use Whatsapp to communicate with each other. the majority are over 40 years old, surely they will be very difficult to adapt to other applications. many recommend signal, wait until the signal is adopted en masse. 'lol'

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[jrrsparkles]

Uninstalling WhatsApp now really will be something very difficult to do. WhatsApp has become almost a part of our lives as we easily keep in touch with most of our friends and family there. The WhatsApp story feature has also become a marketplace for people who run their businesses online.

 Issues about privacy with Tiktok app on how on agreeing to their terms and conditions to use the app, they could obtain your personal information, you gps location, your contact list etc raised some concerns in the past. This still did not stop people from downloading and using the app. WhatsApp will not be any different.

The issue raised when Whatsapp said they will share the metadata with their parent company called Facebook but every app we are using on our smartphone uses our details like location, contacts, media access,etc.

If you are concerned about privacy then you can't use any apps but the reason to avoid using WhatsApp is to get annoying ads on Facebook and ither apps you are using.

[squatz1]

Uninstalling WhatsApp now really will be something very difficult to do. WhatsApp has become almost a part of our lives as we easily keep in touch with most of our friends and family there. The WhatsApp story feature has also become a marketplace for people who run their businesses online.

 Issues about privacy with Tiktok app on how on agreeing to their terms and conditions to use the app, they could obtain your personal information, you gps location, your contact list etc raised some concerns in the past. This still did not stop people from downloading and using the app. WhatsApp will not be any different.

The issue raised when Whatsapp said they will share the metadata with their parent company called Facebook but every app we are using on our smartphone uses our details like location, contacts, media access,etc.

If you are concerned about privacy then you can't use any apps but the reason to avoid using WhatsApp is to get annoying ads on Facebook and ither apps you are using.

I wouldn’t say you cant use any apps, I would say that you shouldn’t be using apps by companies that’s entire profit incentive is to gather comprehensive profiles on people and sell them to advertisers to make as much money as possible.

There are many good apps out there, like Signal, that is fully open source and can be verified to be as privacy friendly as possible. I would totally recommend using that messaging app.

[mindrust]

Uninstalling WhatsApp now really will be something very difficult to do. WhatsApp has become almost a part of our lives as we easily keep in touch with most of our friends and family there. The WhatsApp story feature has also become a marketplace for people who run their businesses online.

 Issues about privacy with Tiktok app on how on agreeing to their terms and conditions to use the app, they could obtain your personal information, you gps location, your contact list etc raised some concerns in the past. This still did not stop people from downloading and using the app. WhatsApp will not be any different.

The issue raised when Whatsapp said they will share the metadata with their parent company called Facebook but every app we are using on our smartphone uses our details like location, contacts, media access,etc.

If you are concerned about privacy then you can't use any apps but the reason to avoid using WhatsApp is to get annoying ads on Facebook and ither apps you are using.

It is so messed up you only have 2 alternatives. Either buy an Iphone, or an Android based phone. (HTC, Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung all of these crap are the same thing)

There are some cellphone experiments based on Linux (Purism etc) but I don't see them becoming mainstream soon.

I guess the best route right now is buying an android phone and flashing it with a custom google-free rom. I don't know if these stuff are still a thing or possible but that's what I am going to do when my current phone craps on me.

[squatz1]

Uninstalling WhatsApp now really will be something very difficult to do. WhatsApp has become almost a part of our lives as we easily keep in touch with most of our friends and family there. The WhatsApp story feature has also become a marketplace for people who run their businesses online.

 Issues about privacy with Tiktok app on how on agreeing to their terms and conditions to use the app, they could obtain your personal information, you gps location, your contact list etc raised some concerns in the past. This still did not stop people from downloading and using the app. WhatsApp will not be any different.

The issue raised when Whatsapp said they will share the metadata with their parent company called Facebook but every app we are using on our smartphone uses our details like location, contacts, media access,etc.

If you are concerned about privacy then you can't use any apps but the reason to avoid using WhatsApp is to get annoying ads on Facebook and ither apps you are using.

It is so messed up you only 2 alternatives. Either buy an Iphone, or an Android based phone. (HTC, Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung all of these crap are the same thing)

There are some cellphone experiments based on Linux (Purism etc) but I don't see them becoming mainstream soon.

I guess the best route right now is buying an android phone and flashing it with a custom google-free rom. I don't know if these stuff are still a thing or possible but that's what I am going to do when my current phone craps on me.

Best bet is probably some form of a hardened OS on android — I’ve heard good things about GrapheneOS and LineageOS — both recommended on privacytools.io (https://www.privacytools.io/operating-systems/#mobile_os)

I personally understand people wanting to use IOS for the ‘privacy’ features. Apple has been one of the only companies is to publicly battle Facebook (and other developers) about their data harvesting features. Pretty sure, to this date, Apple hasn’t harvested their customer data and is the only company in the industry (as the only competitor is Googles Android) thats primary business is manufacturing and not data selling.

Tough world we’re in. I’d love to see another mobile OS that people stick to.

[Porfirii]

I'm lucky that I'm not using it nor installed it.

As a friend of mine was told one day by a beautiful young woman: Which cave do you come from?

Joking apart, it is sad because as most of the members that have answered, a brutal majority of my contacts don't use other apps to keep in touch, so I don't see how could I uninstall it in the short term...

About the Apple products, I hope it is true and that they don't harvest data from it's users (they are already quite expensive, maybe a part of the extra is to reward them for that).

[mindrust]

About the Apple products, I hope it is true and that they don't harvest data from it's users (they are already quite expensive, maybe a part of the extra is to reward them for that).

LoL are you that naive? Of course they do.

Best example is Siri. She only responds when you say "hey siri". How do you think that works? It is because She listens to you all the time!

There are lots of stories around people say they talked about pizza on the phone and suddenly the website he visited showed him pizza ads. (pizza is just an example)

I didn't experience that kind of crap myself because I have been a adblock/ublock user since I don't know when.

[famososMuertos]

In reality, a good number of people have emigrated to another similar shit, but let's say that it is more rebellious and more useful in its use (Telegram that raised its downloads to millions), if you are socially active and you handle extra information related to your income thanks to WhatsApp you are forced to stay there is no alternative.

The point is that companies like Facebook want to make their social networks look essential when in reality, fortunately, there are entrepreneurs who are constantly making options, but it seems that everything becomes a cycle, they all fall into the same thing, the management of personal data is a matter of security and money, I don't know which comes first, but all companies have a tendency to go at some point for your personal data.

[Porfirii]

Best example is Siri. She only responds when you say "hey siri". How do you think that works? It is because She listens to you all the time!

But you can always enable or disable Siri. In fact, when you turn on for the first time the device or computer, and after every major update, they ask you again if you want it or not. In addition, in WhatsApp you can enable/disable various functionalities in iOS that I think are not available for Android. Anyway, sorry, we are going a bit off-topic here.

[mindrust]

Best example is Siri. She only responds when you say "hey siri". How do you think that works? It is because She listens to you all the time!

But you can always enable or disable Siri. In fact, when you turn on for the first time the device or computer, and after every major update, they ask you again if you want it or not. In addition, in WhatsApp you can enable/disable various functionalities in iOS that I think are not available for Android. Anyway, sorry, we are going a bit off-topic here.

You can indeed. And how do you know if that toggle really works or not? As a normie, you naturally think when you switch siri off, she is not running. But this could be faked with a basic if/else block. What if siri is still running but not responding?

Siri is just an example. They watch and log everything you do on your phone. It doesn't matter if it is google or apple. What other choice you got anyway?

All of those little devices we carry in our pockets, each of them is a deep state device.

[Mauser]

*uninstall WhatsApp is still heavy for me...
my whole near and far family use Whatsapp to communicate with each other. the majority are over 40 years old, surely they will be very difficult to adapt to other applications. many recommend signal, wait until the signal is adopted en masse. 'lol'

The same goes for me. Everybody I know is using WhatsApp, even my uncle who hates the Internet and technology uses it. I would love to uninstall WhatsApp and move to a different messaging service if I could convince everybody to do the same.

[Smartvirus]

That's the thing, convincing everyone that to do the same is very much an impossible task as not everyone is really aware or concerned of the privacy policy on the use of whatsapp and not everyone is ready to cut the ties they share with the many users of the much needed services whatsapp offers as it brings friends and family into a nucleated environment where bonds are been parched and sealed.
Its only becomes an issue to those who uses the internet services quite well and knows the menace that can arise should there be a compromise.

[MUHAMMAD NUR AMANAH]

Thank you for the information and it can be a guide to me for being cautious in using the whatsapp but I've often heard that the theft of data even occurred on facebook if from whatsapp it may be new to me since it can be told that I am a whatsapp expert without being sent important documents that are likely to be stolen and merely sociable and for the time being to delete the whatsapp I think it will be difficult Because the whatsapp subscriber beat previous telecommunications before the whatsapp appeared and isa fact that is happening today and cannot be given that the whatsapp is already an appropriate means of communication in my country nearly everyone is using the whatsapp and will find it hard to convince your friends and work associates to move using telegrams or something because it takes time and process

[GeorgeJohn]

Uninstalling apps is base on the app that is unuseful to us because more new things are coming up, someone who had an ancient application can uninstall it because it's old,i don't see any reason while people delete apps, their is some certain apps which people prefer much than others via social media communication such WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, so I think they can not be uninstall totally except they are new innovation.

[semobo]

Uninstalling apps is base on the app that is unuseful to us because more new things are coming up, someone who had an ancient application can uninstall it because it's old,i don't see any reason while people delete apps, their is some certain apps which people prefer much than others via social media communication such WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram, so I think they can not be uninstall totally except they are new innovation.

Have you ever wondered why such exciting application available for free of cost for life time?

They are selling your personal data somewhere and who knows they are seeing you all the time with front and back camera even when you are sleeping or banging.

[blackened515]

Uninstalling WhatsApp now really will be something very difficult to do. WhatsApp has become almost a part of our lives as we easily keep in touch with most of our friends and family there. The WhatsApp story feature has also become a marketplace for people who run their businesses online.

But remember that not everyone cares about their privacy, so in as much as they can have a good time chatting with friends and family, given out their data is nothing big priority to them as long as they aren't scammers to something similar, but most importantly, WhatsApp will definitely loss customers more than before due to that.

[OgNasty]

I'm not usually one to be paranoid about privacy or installing apps on my phone, but I think when it comes to WhatsApp and TikTok I will live without their service.  I guess maybe if I used them before concerns were brought up I might not care and continue doing so.  I don't think either of them offers me something I'm missing from life so for me it's less of an uninstall issue as it is an avoidance issue.

[squatz1]

I'm not usually one to be paranoid about privacy or installing apps on my phone, but I think when it comes to WhatsApp and TikTok I will live without their service.  I guess maybe if I used them before concerns were brought up I might not care and continue doing so.  I don't think either of them offers me something I'm missing from life so for me it's less of an uninstall issue as it is an avoidance issue.

WhatsApp isn't really popular in the states, so it makes sense that most people have no issue just not using it at all. It's more of an international app which was bought by Facebook to fill in their international gap.

TikTok though -- popular in the states, but not really needed at all. Seems like a great way for the Chinese to get data on the younger generation that will grow up to be the future Western leaders......

[Jaycee99]

I agree it's time but at the same time what's the point because you already got in you already installed it they already got your data they already made a way to get into you.
This day you just need to talk without and with an application, they will already know what you want and a creepy side they will give to you.

From different applications that may or may not is connected to Facebook that they can hear you especially when your internet is on. So when all in good ways the modern ways is safer but we can't blame when we need evolution when we need growth.

Today who knows you secretly watching through your cameras that everything is possible so the best thing to do is be safe and likely start reading rules like tik-tok its popular today but it was learned that everything you do is seen you post right the same time your data is shared right back to there headquarters which they can use because you allowed them without reading any policy when you first installed it and that is the same with Facebook the ways I see it.

As much as possible I am trying to be safe. 

[Pancho95]

It was useful and good like 10 years ago. Now they are not better than some other apps like viber, signal, telegram. I have stopped using it like 3 years ago.