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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to still use email?

150 replies

LoveliestFriendEver · 19/01/2019 10:52

I just don't get it. How is WhatsApp or messenger more convenient that email/text? Am I being a luddite?

I've never got on board with Facebook or the newer ways of managing electronic communication.

I email photos to family and use text messages. If I need an instant response I call.

OP posts:
DonCorleoneTheThird · 19/01/2019 20:19

My only grief with whatsapp is that all my contacts are added automatically. Anyone who has my private mobile number can see me profile. It's not a massive issue, I just keep a very generic photo, but I wish I could have the choice not to include my plumber and any random who has my mobile!

user1497787065 · 19/01/2019 21:12

I don't really understand what Facebook messenger or WhatsApp actually is. Email I see as work and more formal communication in place of a typed letter and text is more like a short note as far as I'm concerned.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/01/2019 21:46

"an email hack might reveal a date of birth and name and address. So now the hacker has your email, your date of birth, your name and address and so almost has enough info to ask your bank to reset your internet security details."

I don't think my date of birth is linked to my email address. My address is, but many people have their address available in online phone directories anyway, so it's not really a secret thing.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/01/2019 21:51

"Whatsapp groups are great for sharing photos and chatting with several people. You can have a real time conversation with several participants whereas an email chain is slow and "

You can do this with Facebook Messenger as well.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/01/2019 21:54

"If you want to use WhatsApp on your computer, you can do so via the desktop app or the web version that's accessible straight from your browser."

This would really help me at work. I don't think I'm allowed to download any new programmes though, will have to see if IT will do it for me.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/01/2019 21:58

"WhatsApp is like a conversation. Email is the equivalent to letter-writing these days. Yes, it is similar to text but with a few differences:

  • Free to send photos/GIFs
  • Free video calling
  • If I see someone is online it is easy to start a conversation than if you're sending an email and waiting for a reply
  • You can swipe right to highlight the message that you're replying to which makes it easier to keep track of a chatty conversation. Yes, you can cut and paste comments within an email, but it's much easier to do this with an individual WhatsApp message."

You can do all this with Facebook messenger, which is free and does not require you to be paying for data.

Nacreous · 19/01/2019 22:19

Gwenhwyfar WhatsApp doesn't require you to pay for data either: you can use it on WiFi too, just like Facebook messenger? I primarily use messenger, but they work very similarly (and I think are both owned by Facebook).

Random18 · 19/01/2019 22:34

I hardly ever use email, even for work..........
We have different tools to communicate

Gwenhwyfar · 19/01/2019 22:36

"Gwenhwyfar WhatsApp doesn't require you to pay for data either: you can use it on WiFi too, just like Facebook messenger?"

Doesn't work with public wifi because of the encryption.
Also, because WA is generally on the phone, people use it like a text i.e. they think you can answer any time, which you can't if you don't have a data contract. When I'm out and about I don't have Internet.

Until I read it here, I also didn't know you can use WA on the computer so there is also the problem of being able to type. I can type comfortably on the computer, but can only do short, simple messages on my phone.

reallybadidea · 19/01/2019 22:47

Doesn't work with public wifi because of the encryption

Of course it does!

SassitudeandSparkle · 19/01/2019 22:48

I use messenger (and email) but not WA - it seems to broadcast your phone number to everyone in the group if you are added by someone? Also, I don't want other people's photos on my phone!

My close family use email, due to their jobs they tend to not use social media. Wider family use messenger, I don't have data on my phone all the time and came back to 40 messages the other day!

southeastdweller · 19/01/2019 23:01

I love using Whatsapp on my laptop. It's so much easier to type properly worded long messages, attach pics and documents, and crop screenshots to send on there rather than on email or using Whatsapp on my iPhone. I also love that in the past few years there's been a bit of a general shift away from email to Whatsapp. The email culture at work seems so ingrained now so I like having Whatsapp for my social and uni life.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/01/2019 23:35

Also, I don't want other people's photos on my phone!

Then change your settings to not save them. You can do it for the whole of WhatsApp or an individual chat.

SassitudeandSparkle · 19/01/2019 23:58

I did change the settings to stop the photos, and turned off the notifications. But it was too late for the phone number, I was added to a group that I didn't really want to be in. It's that aspect of it that I don't like.

tor8181 · 20/01/2019 00:01

i still use email for 2 reasons one is competitions and the other is free home education material from sites

my hobby(when i got the time)is entering competitions,99 % of the time the are just putting details in on the page or via facebook but you do get the ones when you got to email your details

with the home ed stuff,sites send you pages that you can print off for free

MercianQueen · 20/01/2019 00:19

Quite simply, WhatsApp is about as secure a messaging service as you can get for informal social messaging. Encrypted in transit and at rest, not even WhatsApp knows what you're sending. As a family of geeks, it's our Chosen Method 🤓

Ragwort · 20/01/2019 08:36

Sorry, a basic question but how do you get started with WhatsApp? Do people invite you to join their group? No ones ever invited me or mentioned it to me. My friends and contacts in community groups etc all use email (or landline Grin.)

Aridane · 20/01/2019 08:44

Ignorant question here on WhatsApp. A couple of posters mention preferring to use it on a device other than their phone (eg ease of typing). However, when Imtried downloading to my iPad, it came up with some 'not recognised' or something error message

DonCorleoneTheThird · 20/01/2019 08:58

You don't need to download anything, just use whatsapp web

web.whatsapp.com/

scan the code on your phone and you are in.

3out · 20/01/2019 09:21

I thought whatsapp was for phone only too?

@Ragwort, download the app. You’ll be able to see which of your contacts use WhatsApp, and vice-versa. Once people know you’re using it then you’ll probably find yourself added to groups as and when it’s needed, a little like with email when you get CC’d in when needed. Or, you can create groups. Say you had to send Rod, Jane and Freddie a message asking what time was best to meet, instead of texting/phoning each individually and then checking back with each member back and forth, you just add everyone into the same group and post ‘hi! What time suits everyone best for Thursday?’ etc

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 20/01/2019 09:23

gwen how old are you?

3out · 20/01/2019 09:26

Thanks for the link Don. It says it’s available on phones or Mac or Windows PC. Does that mean it’s not available on iPad?

Aridane · 20/01/2019 12:06

I was wondering that too

Gwenhwyfar · 20/01/2019 13:24

Why Georgie?

Gwenhwyfar · 20/01/2019 13:26

"Quite simply, WhatsApp is about as secure a messaging service as you can get for informal social messaging. "

Yes, but most of us aren't transmitting state secrets or plotting crimes. I don't see why this would be the number 1 consideration.