Dumb question, I assume this means you have to disinstall whatsapp if you don't want Fb to have access to stuff on your phone... but is there a way to freeze and save all those conversations on whatsapp so I can go back later to search for specific stuff, memes, photos, links
WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
371–380 of 1001 posts
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#372I'd love to give up WhatsApp, but network effects are key here. I tried moving my extended family off WhatsApp onto Signal a couple of years ago and it failed miserably because the app wasn't nearly as easy to use, and they had all their friends on Whatsapp. Has anyone here had any success moving a large group of people onto something like Signal or Telegram? If so, do you have any tips?
I have used WhatsApp and Telegram and Signal. For me the network effects are the opposite - just driving me back to using text messages.
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#373It has been said that companies that build rely too heavily on the public, free API’s of another service are doomed when that service decides to monetize those API’s. See, for example, API users of Google Maps. I think we are now at the point where this applies to individuals. If a person or group of people rely too heavily on a single free service then they’re going to feel pain when that service finally decides to…
Beware building against a paid api as the rates/rules will change under you and you will be more stuck compared to a public api.
I wouldn't trust any api you don't control, don't have a solid contract (without the changable terms) or isn't owned by a nonprofit.
The free ones will hurt you but you expect it. The paid ones hurt more because you often build a business around an ecosystem that eats you up.
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#374Dumb question, I assume this means you have to disinstall whatsapp if you don't want Fb to have access to stuff on your phone... but is there a way to freeze and save all those conversations on whatsapp so I can go back later to search for specific stuff, memes, photos, links
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#375Earlier quoted context omitted.
Whatsapp had to compete with SMS, so when I was introduced to WhatsApp I thought it was a godsend and immediately adopted it. Also advertised it to all my friends. Switching now might be harder because there is a lot less to gain, besides some non-tangible “privacy”. What is this thing called “privacy”?
Even my mother, in her 70s, who somehow always manages to have a new virus or piece of crapware on her laptop every time I visit, knows about the importance of this thing called "privacy" and had no trouble grasping the idea that everything she shares on FB is recorded and used for advertising. It's not a hard concept, and it's not just tech people who care about it. It doesn't require any knowledge of tech to unders…
Am I off the mark in guessing your mother, in her 70’s has some strong opinions about one Senator Joe McCarthy or Hoover? Has she ever spoken much about living through that period-assuming your family are American?
My apologies for the imposition if that’s not the case.
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#376Earlier quoted context omitted.
Signal is "owned" by a non-profit. They can't be sold to a for profit, they learned their lessons from WhatsApp. Lastly, Signal doesn't collect/store any of your data on their infrastructure other than a few hashes required for operation. WhatsApp/facebook on the other hand collect, and likely keep, forever, at much metadata about you as possible. The only way to pay for this free storage is to stay more data so they…
Signal also writes the encryption that WhatsApp and Duo use.
I was confused at first: Google Duo, not Cisco Duo. I'd completely forgotten about Google Duo.
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#377Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's why I'm still sceptical of Signal. It's free as well, paid for by donations but still. At the end of the day I'm not the one paying directly for the service I'm using.
Signal is "owned" by a non-profit. They can't be sold to a for profit, they learned their lessons from WhatsApp. Lastly, Signal doesn't collect/store any of your data on their infrastructure other than a few hashes required for operation. WhatsApp/facebook on the other hand collect, and likely keep, forever, at much metadata about you as possible. The only way to pay for this free storage is to stay more data so they…
Signal is also open source, so if they do somehow become for-profit, it can always be forked.
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#378I'd love to give up WhatsApp, but network effects are key here. I tried moving my extended family off WhatsApp onto Signal a couple of years ago and it failed miserably because the app wasn't nearly as easy to use, and they had all their friends on Whatsapp. Has anyone here had any success moving a large group of people onto something like Signal or Telegram? If so, do you have any tips?
This is a genuine question, what is it that prohibits your group from using text messages and phone calls? I do not use any apps for communication, and can’t think of why I would have a need.
For impromptu groups when you don't want to give your number?
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#379I mistakenly pressed “yes” to this. Is there anything I can do? Can I revoke it?
Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app
#380Earlier quoted context omitted.
Its worth remembering that whatsapp used to have an annual charge, and it grew successfully with that. The charge was only removed once FB bought them. Personally I don't know anyone that started using whatsapp after the fb purchase, so they were all happy to pay for their use of a messaging app.
That's not entirely true. They did charge something tiny to use the app (I think it was ~$2/year) but in many countries (outside the US where they were much more popular) they didn't block users who didn't pay. If you didn't want to see annoying reminders you would just pay and get rid of it. Many people I know never paid.
I can confirm this. No one in my circles ever paid and the banner never went away.