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Why WhatsApp users called out Mark Zuckerberg on Twitter
You must have woken up to see WhatsApp trending on Twitter and in case you’re wondering why, here’s an insight into what really went down that got the tree shaking on the bird app.
Rewind back to Tuesday when yours truly @WuzupNigera reported that rebel app, GB WhatsApp (a cloned version of Facebook-owned WhatsApp) levelled up with a voice denial update which left users fuming on Twitter, well that, my friend, is what you can call a tip of the iceberg.
Fast-forward to Wednesday morning when WhatsAppers gathered for an emergency discussion that lasted for hours and all they are talking about were WhatsApp and Mark Zuckerberg.
So What Happened?
Apparently, WhatsApp uploaded a status on its users’ devices and that has left thousands of users with concerns over their privacy.
If you check your Whatsapp status, you will find that you now have a new unsaved contact with a verified tick with access to share contents to you without your permission and it can’t be blocked, neither can you reply to the contents shared (it’s a one way communication).
“WhatsApp is now on status!… WhatsApp can’t read or listen to your personal conversation as they’re end-to-end encrypted…We’ll let you know about new featureds and updates here,” the tech company said in it’s first three status which can be view by all who have the app.
NB: The Status features were introduced back in early 2017. It is a remake of Snapchat’s Stories features, which Facebook has since cloned for its apps, among other big applications such as LinkedIn and recently, Twitter (Fleets).
This move could leave WhatsApp with amother loss of many users as Guardian Uk reported days ago that millions of WhatsApp users decamped to Telegram and Signal over the Facebook-owned app’s poorly explained update to its terms of service.
Over the first three weeks of January, Signal has gained 7.5 million users globally, according to figures shared by the UK parliament’s home affairs committee, and Telegram has gained 25 million and both apps’ the increase appears to have come at WhatsApp’s expense.
SHOCKER: Signal wasn’t even in the top 1,000 apps in the UK on 6 January, yet by 9 January it was the most downloaded app in the country, according to analytics firm App Annie.
There is also the report of a malware spreading through WhatsApp on Android, hijacking users’ chats to send malicious messages that are self-propagating.
While it might be too early or late to jump into conclusions on the motives of WhatsApp as regards privacy with the new WhatsApp Status that just popped up like your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, see what users have to say about the new update below:
WhatsApp hacked into our status’ to tell us they can’t read our messages or listen to our call & they want us to believe them. #WhatsApp #WhatsappStatus #WhatsappPrivacy pic.twitter.com/S6Rtj5Vqud
— Man’s NOT Barry Roux (@AdvoBarryRoux) January 27, 2021
A user @sikaena1 vowed to decamp by tweeting: “WhatsApp is now on status whilst I didn’t save their contact I’m leaving that app for Good.”
Now they’re introducing new features & updated T&C via Sneaky moves like waking up & automatically finding new features whilst we didn’t update WhatsApp,as for me come 1 February ??WhatsApp forever!
— I am become Death,Destroyer of Worlds (@mtmbrsl) January 27, 2021
Another user, @bashy_io, said, “Users: Complain about their increasing Privacy Concerns with WhatsApp.
“WhatsApp: Invades your privacy by joining Status without your consent just to let you know that they care about your privacy. How Genius!”
I just heard that GB WhatsApp users no get the new WhatsApp status update some. So the GB owner wan take WhatsApp go court, ei?????
— Nungua Zayn Malik?? (@WahidHansen) January 27, 2021
No way anybody can convince me that this #WhatsApp status Mark Zuckerberg dropped on us today is not a dry run for adverts going forward.
Welcome to WhatsApp targeted adverts everyone!
Privacy taken from another angle.— Illuminated (@C_CDon) January 27, 2021
Dear Mark Zuckerberg;
You prioritise my privacy yet override my permission and give yourself access to show me your status even when we’re not friends or acquaintances?
Okay!
— Son of EL (@UcheTheAfrican) January 27, 2021
What is “Mark Zuckerberg” doing on my WhatsApp status, to be friends is not by force
— lawrence crisla (@lawrencrisla) January 27, 2021
Woke up to Mark Zuckerberg posting WhatsApp status on my phone as if we went to the same school. You prioritise my privacy, and so?
— Your Daddy (@ToyosiGodwin) January 27, 2021
I tried swiping up on WhatsApp’s WhatsApp-status to ask them.
*who gave you my number?* ??
Didn’t work tho
— Dear Dora (@DearDora256) January 27, 2021
Dear whatsapp if you are going to force yourself as part of the status bar then let it come with a mute button..
— nestie (@MNESTIE) January 27, 2021