Last week saw WhatsApp issue a pop-up to its users requiring them to opt-in to a new privacy policy that would result in the sharing of their info with Facebook or face being cut off from the app on February 8th. It's very much a ‘take it or leave it' stance taken by WhatsApp and its parent company, Facebook, one that has users considering their options in terms of alternate apps. But which is the right messaging app to move to if you do decide to switch?
What data is WhatsApp sharing with Facebook?
Most of the so-called free apps and online services that we use share data with other companies so that ads can be tailored to our preferences. Anyone with a Gmail account will know the feeling of Googling for a new phone and seeing every advert on every page afterward show the exact phone you were looking at. But having WhatsApp share the information listed below with Facebook would appear to be a step too far for many, especially as the data gets shared with the other 80+ companies owned by the social media company.
- Profile name
- Profile picture
- IP address
- Status messages
- Phone number
- Contacts list
- App logs
Signal
One of the more popular alternative messaging apps being mentioned is Signal whose servers struggled to keep up with the huge uptake in registrations thanks to a certain Elon Musk recommending it instead of WhatsApp.
Widely considered the most secure messaging app available, Signal is open-source which means that those with the know-how can scour the programming code for signs of backdoors or sharing policies. It also boasts end-to-end encryption so your messages are totally secure and recently gained the ability to blur faces in images to maintain privacy.
Download it Here: Signal (Play Store Link)
Telegram
Telegram is a messaging app that offers a similar experience to WhatsApp with sticker packs and aesthetics. Boasting end-to-end encryption, Telegram also features self-destructing messages that expire after a certain amount of time without a trace. Another positive for Telegram is its ability to be used on just about every platform you can think of with smartphone, desktop, and web apps available.
Download it Here: Telegram (Play Store Link)
Google Messages
You could blame Apple for this because of its reticence in bringing iMessage to Android, but it was always going to happen because well, it's Google. Messages may be text-based but thanks to the wonders of RCS you have access to sticker packs, seeing when someone is typing a reply, as well as deep-integration with Google's other apps and services such as Photos and the Google Assistant. In case you were wondering, end-to-end encryption is present, which means that not even Google can read your messages. The Google Messages app supports Android and web browsers.
Download it Here: Google Messages (Play Store Link)
iMessage (for iOS users)
If you are an iOS user, iMessage is likely to be your preferred messaging app anyway and you may have only been signed up to WhatsApp to chat to your friends and family with Android smartphones. Still, it's worth your while taking a gander at the alternatives and steering your contacts in the right direction to keep your data safe. The bad thing with iMessage is that it's only available on Apple devices and despite the seemingly annual rumor of it coming to Android, hell hasn't frozen over just yet.
Other notable but regional mentions
Viber, BBM, WeChat are all worthy messaging apps but unless you live in Indonesia or South Africa you are unlikely to find many of your contacts on BlackBerry's messaging app. Viber is a full-featured messaging app that is said to have around a billion users but again isn't terribly popular in the west. WeChat is a truly stupendous messaging app that performs all manner of functions but is most widely used in China, which brings about privacy concerns of its own plus you won't find many of your contacts using it. Facebook Messenger is another option but one that comes with the same issues as WhatsApp now does, with your data being shared with the social media giant.
So there are your options when it comes to choosing a WhatsApp replacement, once you've made your choice you just need to convince your contacts to choose the same app, which may be easier said than done.
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