WhatsApp, a Facebook-owned company, has changed its privacy policy. The matter has caused suspicion among the customers of the app. Consumers feel that this change could threaten their personal information and privacy. So they are leaning towards alternative apps.
Technology news outlet The Verge reports that changes in privacy policy have led to an increase in subscribers’ number to WhatsApp’s rival app, Telegram, and Signal, over the past few days. And in Bangladesh, the number of Whatsapp app users is decreasing, and the number of BiP users (Alternative to Whatsapp) is increasing so much. WhatsApp is known as one of the most popular messaging apps in the world. Users of the app have not been pleased since the last privacy policy change of Whatsapp.
The new policy states that users must either share their information with Facebook or stop using WhatsApp. For this reason, some people are looking for an alternative to WhatsApp. You can also use these apps as an alternative to Whatsapp.
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Telegram is considered to be the best alternative to WhatsApp. All the features of WhatsApp can be found in Telegram. In addition to these, the exclusive feature of Telegram is the supergroups where a maximum of one lakh people can be added. Users will also get many more app features, including file sharing up to 1.5 gigabytes, public channels, passcode lock, self-destructing messages. The app can be used on all three platforms, Android, iOS, and Windows.
The telegram reported a few weeks ago that a new feature had been added so that customers can bring their chat history to Telegram from WhatsApp.
Another good alternative to WhatsApp could be ‘Signal.’ Those who want to keep their information secure can use it. The Signal Foundation works to provide end-to-end encryption technology on Facebook and WhatsApp. The company has its own messaging app ‘Signal’ with several security features. Two of the most notable are self-destructing messages and screen security. The app can be downloaded on Android and iOS.
An official of Signal App said that unlimited stickers and wallpapers had been added to the app to give additional benefits to the customers.
In the present time, in the era of android, google, youtube, Facebook, how could we show our data privacy attitude? All of them know what we like, what we do, where we go, and what we talk about! But yes, if we talk about minimum privacy for our conversation, then we can carry on, can have some argument about voting the best one over them.
Our topic is about the two best messaging software of the present time, Telegram and Signal.
What would be best for you?
Everyone here has written about this topic based on the popular online tech magazine, how-to-geek. I have read all the content in this thread. It seems like everyone is voting for Signal. I personally use Telegram for about 4 years. As a freelance professional, as a blogger, I will vote for Telegram.
Both Signal and Telegram offer personal data privacy, don’t maintaining by any giant tech company. Both have some standard features like GIF, sticker, media sharing, voice, and video calls. Both two software is available in Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. But the difference between both of them is mainly in end-to-end encryption. If anyone wants to have a secret conversation with someone else using social media, Telegram and Signal are the best of all other software or apps.
For just only private or secret conversation you want to do, I vote to Signal. But from overall features, my vote is for Telegram. Because Telegram also has end-to-end optional encryption, whereas Signal has a default setting for end-to-end encryption. Telegram uses cloud-based instant messaging option, offer a huge number of a group member and give a chance to create a channel to do your business work (building and maintaining a community). You can continue group discussion and build a huge subscribed channel to boost or marketing of your product.
You can share up to 2GB media files at a time (one of the best features). Can save media file in any private channel(like google drive, but google drive offers 15GB, telegram offer unlimited space). Although Telegram can see, read your conversation, your media file. But there is no such claim about data privacy. If you need, you can use the optional “secret chat option.” No one is gonna stop you :). That data will not be stored in the cloud. Your data privacy is ‘okay, then.
Now, say you are using Signal on your phone. But if you want to use the same account on the web or your PC, you will not see your old and continuing conversation on your PC because Signal doesn’t use any cloud service. Every single message you’ve sent and gotten in any personal conversation or group will remove soon. You will not be able to see all those messages (data of your conversation can be saved on your device if you want). But Telegram is okay from that sight.
Telegram is a for-profit organization, whereas Signal is a non-profit organization. Telegram offers bot service for your groups and channels. Bot in a group is boring. And the most important thing is. Telegram offers ill-fated cryptocurrency. People share lots of unusual links in the group. That’s really boring, but you can control it, can avoid this issue. Even then, Telegram is best :D.
The Discord app is considered a platform for gamers. But you can also use it for chatting as an alternative to WhatsApp. Discord can be used to send private messages, GIFs, photos, and various documents. It also has video and audio call facilities like WhatsApp. Android, iOS, and Windows users can download it.
Since its first launch in November 2013, the app has been downloaded by four and a half crore customers in the last six years. And in the last few weeks, about one crore has been downloaded. As of November 2015, 27 lakh people have downloaded this app from 16 countries. In 2016, the total number of users was 16 million. In November 2016, this number reached 34 million. WhatsApp was the number one most used app in Turkey in 2019, and Beep was number 20. Until September of that year, WhatsApp was used by 43.5 million people in Turkey.
Today, BiP was downloaded 50M+ times in the play store, and people rated it 4.6 out of 5. And the number of downloads is increasing so much. Especially in our country Bangladesh. This app can be one of the best alternatives to Whatsapp.
Ending
WhatsApp changed their privacy. It’s true. But people are panicking too much without knowing what was in the update. Whatsapp Authorities said, “We will not break our promise to protect your privacy.”A spokesman for WhatsApp said customers would be able to communicate with each other without hesitation. Our main goal is to protect their privacy. So it is not like Whatsapp has taken all of your privacies. They still do respect your privacy. So do not just believe what the media hype says. Verify all the news from valid sources.