Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

arstechnica.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

521–530 of 1001 posts

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#523

Post by midasz »

shadowfaxRodeo wrote: post #224
frereubu wrote: post #22

I'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 managed to get most of my family to use telegram. I just stopped using whatsapp and convinced a few of them to do so also, the rest came because they couldn't speak to us otherwise. The key was being stubborn and banking on them eventually wanting to talk to me.

> The key was being stubborn and banking on them eventually wanting to talk to me.

This. Same for me. I just put a message like this in the family whatsapp groups and then deleted the app/account: 'Hey everyone, I'm not going to be on WhatsApp anymore - you can call, text, signal, telegram or email me. Talk to you later!'. It was that simple. It took a little while but now my family is on Telegram. I know they still use WhatsApp but it's honestly not my problem or issue that they use the app - I just don't want to.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#525

Post by midasz »

perryizgr8 wrote: post #308
frereubu wrote: post #22

I'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?

How's signal different? It's also in the same position as whatsapp was a few years ago. For the time being it may be better, but surely it is not a long-term alternative?

You don't have to pick a messaging app for life.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#526

Post by roel_v »

codemac wrote: post #300
dijit wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I contact the majority of my friends with telegram, the UX is similar enough and people get on board quite quickly- the difficult part is convincing someone to install /another/ messaging app- if they have network effects too then it's a hard sell. But once most people have both it gets easier. Signal (UX wise) is not really super great for my family, I burned a lot of my "technical expert advisor" capital and reputa…

Signal has improved a lot. I burnt a lot of the same thing, but it's finally sticking when I ask people to first install it within the last year or so.

"Signal has gotten better" is the new "Linux on the desktop". When I move to a new phone with Signal, is there already an (easy) mechanism to take along all my messages from my old phone? Last time I checked, there wasn't, and this is a core requirement, even if most people don't quite realize it when they start using Signal.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#527

Post by lrvick »

frereubu wrote: post #22

I'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 simply stopped using anything except decentralized ethical services that offer freedom, privacy, and high security like Matrix.

I refuse to help walled gardens get bigger. It has cost me a lot of contacts, but so be it. There is always a choice.

If you had a friend you respected that was vegan for ethical or environmental convictions would you insist on continuing to exclusively have social gatherings at BBQ restaurants with no menu options for them? Would you take them seriously if they caved to avoid being excluded from the group?

When I deleted all walled garden messengers by Google, Facebook etc they knew I wasn't kidding. Anyone that refuses to make small allowances for you living your convictions is not your friend.

The people that need to talk to me use matrix now or found other ways to reach out like e-mail or in person. Those that don't respect my ethics don't get free advice from me anymore.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#528

Post by dessant »

submeta wrote: post #467

I am in the EU, and this is what I have been presented with: „ By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms, which take effect on February 8, 2021. After this date, you’ll need to accept the new terms to continue using WhatsApp. You can also visit the Help Center if you would prefer to delete your account and would like more information. To learn more about how WhatsApp processes your data, read our updated privacy pol…

Our quest to fully convert to Signal has hit a major wall, Android tablets are not supported as linked devices.

Supporting tablets would allow us to chat and send files across devices, without resorting to apps like Messenger.

Re: WhatsApp gives users an ultimatum: Share data with Facebook or stop using app

#529

Post by cranekam »

pojzon wrote: post #513
boredatworkme wrote: post #494

Can someone help and dumb this down a little bit for me so that I can then explain to some of my friends who couldn't care too much about this change in policy? For example: What should be my response to questions like: . "What kind of data can now be shared with FB versus what was shared earlier (if any)?" . "Whatsapp chats are end to end encrypted so how can my data be shared with FB?" . "As an individual, how diff…

Their infra is generating those encryption certificates, so WhatsApp can very well decode the message and store it for further processing. They will most likely share metadata about you with facebook to sell that data to push more ads into your face. They may very well sell also data to insurance companies making it harder for you to get insurance. Options are limited only by who would like to pay for info about you.…

> Their infra is generating those encryption certificates, so WhatsApp can very well decode the message and store it for further processing.

This is incorrect. The sender's device generates the key with which it encrypts outgoing messages. WhatsApp's infra cannot see the content of any messages sent.

(Source: ex-WhatsApp employee)

Post reply on HN