Earlier this year, instant messaging app; WhatsApp announced a new privacy policy that received several backlashes from users. This privacy policy pushed other instant messaging apps like Telegram and Signal to the forefront. WhatsApp postponed the date that the new privacy policy update would take effect to May 15th; according to the parent company; Facebook, they wanted to give users more time to brood over the policy and decide if they wanted it or not.
WhatsApp will therefore not delete the accounts of users who reject the privacy policy update. Users who plan to reject this policy can rest assured that they can always return to using the service whenever they want.
“While the majority of users who have received the new terms of service have accepted them, we appreciate some people who haven’t had the chance to do so yet. No accounts will be deleted on May 15 because of this update and no one will lose the functionality of WhatsApp either. We will follow up with remainders to people over the next several weeks”, WhatsApp announced in a statement.
This new decision by WhatsApp is causing some sparks. While there is a huge possibility that WhatsApp decided on this to avoid more backlash when the policy eventually takes effect, it might just be that the company does not want to lose out in the competition with its toughest contenders; Telegram and Signal, that many users have turned to since the controversial privacy policy came up. It also could be that WhatsApp is satisfied with the number of people that have already accepted the policy and sees no need to delete the accounts of those that reject it, and wants to give them a chance to be able to come back to the service whenever they want.
WhatsApp will soon allow users to listen to voice notes before sending them. You can read about it by clicking here.
Ibhadojemu Lucky Emmanuel is a graduate of Education and Economics from the University of Benin. He has a passion for tech and business and has been writing professionally for over a period of five years. He's written across various topics and segments and knew tech-business was it when he first stumbled on it. He has a great passion for music and arts, and wants to visit as many countries as he can someday.
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