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Original poster

Refusing to Use WhatsApp for this reason

182 replies

dottypotter · 18/06/2022 20:29

Someone in the family refuses to use WhatsApp and be in the family group as they don't believe it's private and safe.
I have never heard anyone give this as a reason has anyone else

We now have to text them separately etc cos they won't use it.

It's so useful to all be on the same group. Just never heard it as a reason before.

OP posts:
waveyourpompoms · 19/06/2022 07:10

I mean, they’re very ignorant, because WhatsApp has end to end encryption and is probably safer than texting.

If they are refusing to join the group then it’s their lookout if they miss out on notifications. I wouldn’t be informing them separately. Actions have consequences.

babyjellyfish · 19/06/2022 07:13

mrsfoof · 18/06/2022 20:35

For an app to be totally free, there has to be something in it for the developer, so your family member may have a point.
WhatsApp are gathering data of sorts about you each and every time you use it and in turn use that for marketing purposes.
Maybe your family member just isn't up for that.

Your WhatsApp conversations are used to show you targeted advertising on sites like Facebook.

I don't particularly care, but it's very obvious.

OperaStation · 19/06/2022 07:14

Reallyreallyborednow · 18/06/2022 23:25

My understanding is that WhatsApp is far more secure than other messaging apps because it provides end to end encryption

this. The encryption means messages can only be seen by the user.

there isn’t someone in an office reading everyone’s whatsapp messages. It can’t be done.

You’ve missed the point. When people talk about security fears, they’re not talking about people reading their messages, they’re talking about their data being stolen. Names, phone numbers, passwords. Those are the things that are valuable, not what you had for breakfast yesterday.

FOTB · 19/06/2022 07:19

dottypotter · 18/06/2022 20:29

Someone in the family refuses to use WhatsApp and be in the family group as they don't believe it's private and safe.
I have never heard anyone give this as a reason has anyone else

We now have to text them separately etc cos they won't use it.

It's so useful to all be on the same group. Just never heard it as a reason before.

A lot of techy people prefer Telegram or Signal to WhatsApp since the FB acquisition.

Have you suggested an alternative app?

Bluueberrryy · 19/06/2022 07:37

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 18/06/2022 23:05

I don't do What's App because a family member posts about 40 photos of her darling child every day and WA saves it all to my phone. She was so into competitive parenting and drowned out any and all conversation that wasn't about her or her kid.

I used it for 6 months and it took up 2gb on my phone due to these bloody pics that she was spamming both family groups with and she was plonking them all on FB as well with the same captions, she was like a three year old at the top of a slide. My phone got full so I had to delete the app. No major loss tbh.

I just really prefer non-linear conversation management like you get on Facebook where you can reply to someone under their message instead of at the bottom of 250 other messages.

Turn off auto save then

User4387075 · 19/06/2022 07:40

I used to use it when it first came out but deleted it when it went to Facebook, I was never very impressed by the fact it wanted access to all your contacts not just the ones you chose though that may be different now

Taskmeister · 19/06/2022 07:44

My dad refuses to use it and has come off of it. Sent us all invites to use Signal instead. So we have a family group on Signal. It’s all I use the app for, but I have had a look through who in my contacts has Signal and it is all tech/security savvy people. So maybe there’s something to it. I still use WhatsApp to speak to everyone else though 🤷‍♀️

Saucery · 19/06/2022 07:50

I hate WhatsApp. I don’t want all my contacts scooped into an online messaging app.
Had to install it on my phone during lockdown times for work. The inane bollocks on the main work group drove me mad. It was for updates about changing work patterns, etc, not endless shitty memes. Then people started messaging me separately. People who I saw no need to give my mobile number to previously, or add to FB Messenger. In the end I muted everything and after a few weeks of “Did you not see what I sent you?”. “No”, the crappy memes and random shit dried up.

And no, my name’s not Beryl.

Saucery · 19/06/2022 07:53

like a three year old at the top of a slide

Oh, this is a perfect description of the type of person I avoid on social media Grin

borntobequiet · 19/06/2022 08:42

They probably don’t want to be bombarded with pointless photos and inane messages but don’t want to say that. It’s why I don’t use WhatsApp.

Norgie · 19/06/2022 08:47

I have a couple of questions regarding WhatsApp If there are any Techies around

  1. I don't have WhatsApp, but yet someone managed to send me a message via it. When I looked at my phone number which I have in my phone book, as I can never remember it, it says phone, text, WhatsApp etc. How? I've never used nor installed it
  2. If you mute the person/group, do they know you've muted it?
CornishGem1975 · 19/06/2022 08:48

Mennex · 18/06/2022 21:04

I suspect this it is pretty insecure and there slots of snooping going on but, unless you're a drug dealer or a spy, who really cares?

This,

I use it for loads of groups - it's really convenient, especially for organising social events etc. People not on the group tend to get missed out.

Dinoteeth · 19/06/2022 08:54

In my mind it's great for small groups and general chit-chat it's not suitable for business. Far too easy to miss messages on it.

Benjispruce4 · 19/06/2022 08:57

@Norgie I don’t think you can receive a WhatsApp message if you’ve never installed it.
Mute is a feature of WhatsApp which you don’t have…. But no, people don’t know if you mute them on WhatsApp. They can tell that you haven’t read their messages though.

Norgie · 19/06/2022 09:36

@Benjispruce4 Thanks. I can't ever recall installing it, but then I can scarce remember what I did three hours ago. 🙂

balalake · 19/06/2022 09:46

I refuse to use it. I have no wish to give Mr Zuckerberg and his companies any of my information. I don't trust them with data either.

Benjispruce4 · 19/06/2022 09:53

@Norgie if you have it you’ll have the icon on your phone.

PrawnToast5 · 19/06/2022 10:48

mrsfoof · 18/06/2022 23:03

@SaskiaRembrandt But what are Apple doing with the data (genuine question, not disputing your claims)?
I can see where Google / Meta have a use for the data they gather as it helps generate their advertising revenue. But I don't get it for Apple. Do they sell it to other companies? Or just to further develop their own products?

Apple gather your data for targeted advertisements.

Google also pay Apple $15 million a year to be the default search engine on their browsers.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2022 10:54

"They can tell that you haven’t read their messages though."

Not in a group message.

Thebeastofsleep · 19/06/2022 11:04

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2022 10:54

"They can tell that you haven’t read their messages though."

Not in a group message.

Yes you can.

Press and hold the message you have sent. Click the 3 dots at the top, then info. And it'll tell you who in the group has read it.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2022 11:05

Taskmeister · 19/06/2022 07:44

My dad refuses to use it and has come off of it. Sent us all invites to use Signal instead. So we have a family group on Signal. It’s all I use the app for, but I have had a look through who in my contacts has Signal and it is all tech/security savvy people. So maybe there’s something to it. I still use WhatsApp to speak to everyone else though 🤷‍♀️

I don't mind moving to Signal, but only when everyone else does it. I don't want to have to juggle both and with my last phone, I wouldn't have had space for both apps anyway.

Gwenhwyfar · 19/06/2022 11:07

Thanks Thebeastofsleep!

HaggisBurger · 19/06/2022 11:10

Wickywickyyow · 18/06/2022 20:55

10 people arrange a mutually convenient time to meet, Beryl who doesn't use what app then has to be messaged to find out if she can make the date... she can't... go back back the group and start again . Massive pita all because Beryl wears a tin foil hat.

Show quote history

This.

chaosmaker · 19/06/2022 19:35

Hope everyone has ticked the box in facebook that tells it not to follow your activity when you AREN'T using facebook. Also I remember life pre app/mobile phones and somehow we all managed to have a great social life with less stuff cancelled last minute etc. I'm waiting until everyone is floating around on mobile loungers a la Wall-E 🙄

chaosmaker · 19/06/2022 19:42

Trivester · 18/06/2022 21:41

Two tin cans and a long string, that’s what you need.

Yeah! the only way they'd hack that is with a blunt knife!