WhatsApp: Difference between revisions
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===Introduction of advertising (2025)=== | ===Introduction of advertising (2025)=== | ||
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced into WhatsApp | In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced into WhatsApp worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scharon |first=Harding |date=2025-06-16 |title=Ads are “rolling out gradually” to WhatsApp |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/ads-are-rolling-out-gradually-to-whatsapp/ |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014 after it acquired the messenger: <blockquote>''("[…] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.")''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://blog.whatsapp.com/facebook?lang=en |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=WhatsApp Blog}}</ref> </blockquote>The personalized ads also make use of data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-16 |title=Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp |url=https://about.fb.com/news/2025/06/helping-you-find-more-channels-businesses-on-whatsapp/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Meta Newsroom}}</ref> | ||
===Privacy policy update (2021)=== | ===Privacy policy update (2021)=== | ||
{{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}} | {{Main|WhatsApp updates privacy policy and millions of users flee the platform}} | ||
There was | There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update, relating the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses who use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of its chats on Facebook servers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=12 Jan 2021 |title=WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112161057/https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/12/22226792/whatsapp-privacy-policy-response-signal-telegram-controversy-clarification |archive-date=12 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> The update received a broader concern, causing millions of users to flee the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=24 Jan 2021 |title=WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124165416/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jan/24/whatsapp-loses-millions-of-users-after-terms-update |archive-date=24 Jan 2021 |access-date=6 Mar 2025 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> | ||
==="Advanced chat privacy"=== | ==="Advanced chat privacy"=== | ||
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There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats such as backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, pre-empting erroneous account terminations (yes, [https://karl-voit.at/cloud they do happen]), searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including with deceased people (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE Ed Sheeran - Old Phone]). And if you don't trust someone to keep something secret, you shouldn't send it in the first place, just as you would not tell them in real life. | There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats such as backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, pre-empting erroneous account terminations (yes, [https://karl-voit.at/cloud they do happen]), searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including with deceased people (see [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5dxoMY-dE Ed Sheeran - Old Phone]). And if you don't trust someone to keep something secret, you shouldn't send it in the first place, just as you would not tell them in real life. | ||
The developers of WhatsApp have threatened with [[screenshot blocking|blocking screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled: | The developers of WhatsApp have threatened with [[screenshot blocking|blocking screenshots]] inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:<ref>[http://archive.today/2025.07.07-200053/https://cybersecuritynews.com/whatsapp-advanced-chat-privacy-feature/ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations]</ref> | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots. | The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
==Mandatory updates== | ==Mandatory updates== | ||
WhatsApp forces users to stay on updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if the user has not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely {{Citation needed|reason=how long before this happens? any screenshots?}}. This is problematic in certain cases such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity, or being on an older device that is no longer supported<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Dylan |title=WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-support-android-kitkat/ |website=Android Police}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ro |date=2024-12-22 |title=WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025 |url=https://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_to_drop_support_for_older_android_devices_on_january_1_2025-news-65834.php |website=GSMArena}}</ref>. <!-- In my experience, WhatsApp is one of the few apps to function near-perfectly on 3G, even rural areas. Updates however are usually 60+ MB, very chungus in comparison. I'm not sure how to incorporate this point though. -Raster --> | |||
==Alternatives== | ==Alternatives== | ||
*[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design and is operated by a non-profit. | *[https://www.signal.org Signal] offers most of the same features, and while [[Signal data collection|not without some issues]], the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design and is operated by a non-profit. | ||
Revision as of 07:24, 4 December 2025
❗Article Status Notice: Inappropriate Tone/Word Usage
This article needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Specifically it uses wording throughout that is non-compliant with the Editorial guidelines of this wiki.
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| Legal structure | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Social Media |
| Official website | https://www.whatsapp.com/ |
WhatsApp (officially WhatsApp Messenger) is an American instant messaging (IM) and voice-over-IP (VoIP) service owned by technology conglomerate Meta.
Consumer impact summary
User Privacy
Collects and shares metadata, while competing apps intentionally collect less to avoid incursions on its users' privacy.[1]
Market Control
The combination of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, all owned by Meta, serve billions of active users.[2]
Incidents
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the WhatsApp category.
Introduction of advertising (2025)
In June 2025, Meta announced that personalized ads would be introduced into WhatsApp worldwide.[3] Previously, Meta (then known as Facebook) stated in 2014 after it acquired the messenger:
("[…] And you can still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.").[4]
The personalized ads also make use of data from linked accounts on other Meta platforms.[5]
Privacy policy update (2021)
There was widespread backlash over an upcoming privacy policy update, relating the data-sharing procedures with Facebook. It outlined how businesses who use WhatsApp for customer service may store logs of its chats on Facebook servers.[6] The update received a broader concern, causing millions of users to flee the platform.[7]
"Advanced chat privacy"
The "advanced chat privacy" feature reduces data portability by disabling chat exporting. Chat exporting lets you export the entire chat history and optionally media attachments into a ZIP file. This can now be remotely disabled by the other participant, meaning the user is at the mercy of the other participant to allow exporting.
There are legitimate reasons for exporting chats such as backups in a human-readable and non-proprietary format, pre-empting erroneous account terminations (yes, they do happen), searching using external tools, and preserving good memories with people, including with deceased people (see Ed Sheeran - Old Phone). And if you don't trust someone to keep something secret, you shouldn't send it in the first place, just as you would not tell them in real life.
The developers of WhatsApp have threatened with blocking screenshots inside chats with "advanced chat privacy" enabled:[8]
The company has stated that this is the first iteration of the feature, with plans to introduce even more robust protections in future updates, potentially including measures to block screenshots.
Mandatory updates
WhatsApp forces users to stay on updated versions of the app by first giving them an in-app warning if the user has not updated for a while. If the user still chooses not to update, usage of the app will be disabled entirely [citation needed - how long before this happens? any screenshots?]. This is problematic in certain cases such as being in an area with poor or limited internet connectivity, or being on an older device that is no longer supported[9][10].
Alternatives
- Signal offers most of the same features, and while not without some issues, the app is open source, relies on Privacy by Design and is operated by a non-profit.
- Matrix is more private and uses a federated design, but setup is slightly more involved than a commercial messenger.
- Telegram is the most popular alternative and end-user friendly, with minimal content moderation. Prior to a September 2024 policy change, it refused to hand over user data to law enforcement upon request.[11]
References
- ↑ Elkind, Peter; Gillum, Jack; Silverman, Craig (7 Sep 2021). "How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users". ProPublica. Archived from the original on 7 Sep 2021. Retrieved 6 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Dixon, Stacy Jo (10 Jul 2024). "Most popular social networks worldwide as of April 2024, by number of monthly active users". Statista. Retrieved 6 Mar 2025.
[...] Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.
- ↑ Scharon, Harding (2025-06-16). "Ads are "rolling out gradually" to WhatsApp". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ↑ "Facebook". WhatsApp Blog. Retrieved 2025-06-18.
- ↑ "Helping You Find More Channels and Businesses on WhatsApp". Meta Newsroom. 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-20.
- ↑ Statt, Nick (12 Jan 2021). "WhatsApp clarifies it's not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users". The Verge. Archived from the original on 12 Jan 2021. Retrieved 6 Mar 2025.
- ↑ Hern, Alex (24 Jan 2021). "WhatsApp loses millions of users after terms update". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 Jan 2021. Retrieved 6 Mar 2025.
- ↑ WhatsApp’s New Advanced Chat Privacy Feature to Protect Sensitive Conversations
- ↑ Cole, Dylan. "WhatsApp drops support for Android KitKat". Android Police.
- ↑ Ro (2024-12-22). "WhatsApp to drop support for older Android devices on January 1, 2025". GSMArena.
- ↑ Jamali, Lily (23 Sep 2024). "Telegram will now provide some user data to authorities". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 Sep 2024. Retrieved 22 Jul 2025.