Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
picture credits- newsweek.com

Consider the following situation- you telephone MacDonald to place your order “hey, good morning, I would like to place my order”.

“very well sir, should I place your regular order?”

“what do you mean?”

“Sir, through our resources we know that you usually prefer your margarita pizza with thin crust and extra cheese paired with 2 buckets of fried chicken.”

“but I would like to order some fries.”

“sir, we also recommend you seasoning of broccoli and olives, as it will be healthy and beneficial for your high cholesterol”

“sorry but how do you know about that?”

“sir, we have information that last week you got your monthly checkup done. But don’t worry, we only recommend the best!”

“this is insane!”

This could be the grim future of technology, if the tech giants are not regulated for their wrongful information infringement spree.

WhatsApp’s new security policy is wrong on several grounds. Online social media platforms were developed for the mere entertainment and connecting purposes of the public. But this role of social media platforms has developed and widened over time. Recently, these platforms have presented themselves as an enticing business platform for its users with the promise of a greater user security and protection of their data.

WhatsApp is open to all the changes proposed, keenly emphasizing that ‘key updates’ will affect how the platform uses its user data and how business can use new set of features for greater consumer satisfaction.

Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent entity acquired it with a solemn pledge and understanding that WhatsApp was to continue as a safe individual platform. They also maintained that he Facebook -WhatsApp integration was merely for the reasons of more consumer satisfaction. This meant that WhatsApp and Facebook data were never to be shared for security reasons.

WhatsApp’s new policy update is a breach of its former understanding and user trust. This makes WhatsApp users really Facebook consumers.

picture credits- extremetech.com

Atmanirbhar Digital Indian Foundation (ADIF), a newly formed industry association of Indian startups has emphatically alleged that WhatsApp’s policy is a looming threat.

This has presented an unadorned opportunity for the substitute platforms like signal and telegram which are attracting new followers. Twitter followers of instant messaging app Signal has instantly doubled sending across  a warning to the tech giants, that privacy matters. Signal’s following on microblogging platform has increased from 2,40,000 in January to 4,65,000.

The chat app named signal is seeing a latest surge because world’s richest man, Elon Musk is endorsing it. With his series of tweets like “use signal” , Elon Musk has done quite a lot for Signal’s fortune.

Signal is a cross – platform encrypted messaging service that is available in iOS and Android, giving you a perfect substitute for WhatsApp. Its open-source software application allows you to send links, photos and videos, giving you the best experience ever!

But what is it in signal’s policies that makes it the best alternative to WhatsApp? Signal works exactly like your friend who ditched you but instead is loyal with your data and understands your privacy concern .

Signal uses phone numbers as contacts and uses internet to send private and group messages, pretty much like WhatsApp. But unlike it, does not require formal access requirements. This means that it cannot “decrypt or otherwise access the content of your messages or call”.

What’s more? You can create groups on the signal app. Might sound pretty basic but unlike WhatsApp that lets you be added to some group because they have your number, signal initially sends you an invite request. Truly, an epitome of protector of privacy.

To add to its credentials, apart from Elon Musk, even Edward Snowden recommends it. Signal’s tagline is “Say hello to privacy”. Call it good or rather great marketing strategy but signal’s twitter account reprimands WhatsApp’s latest safety policies and makes claims to stand with its users in solidarity.

Thus, it is safe to say that you can ditch WhatsApp and get better privacy security with signal.

By Shivani Khanna

A woman who believes in equal rights and aspires to inspire people through her writings. I aspire to contribute to the economic world and society with diligence and thus being an economic advisor tops my career ambitions . I currently am pursuing Economic honours ( at undergrad level) from delhi university.