Since the time Whatsapp company announced new terms of service and privacy policies for its users, a section of users have been shifting to similar messaging service apps like Signal and Telegram.
So far, Whatsapp has been one of the major messaging services for the past few years around the globe.
But the latest move of privacy policy has discouraged the users as revealed by the latest survey conducted by online platform Localcircles around WhatsApp’s new terms of service.
Localcircles Survey Findings
While it has pushed 5 percent of Indian users to delete the Facebook-owned messaging app, according to a survey.
Most users said that they would not use Whatsapp payment features and were also considering discontinuing business chat if Whatsapp shared information with Facebook and third parties.
The survey covered more than 17,000 respondents across the country, which is also the biggest market for the messaging platform.
Around 21 percent of respondents claim to be using alternative messaging apps actively.
While 22 percent confirmed that they have drastically cut down the use of WhatsApp.
While talking about the Whatsapp payment features, over 92 percent of people surveyed said they won’t use Whatsapp payment features if it would share information with Facebook and third parties.
On the other hand, over 79 percent of respondents said that they won’t like to use Whatsapp Business Accounts if it decides to implement the policy in May.
In terms of shifting to an alternative mode, 55 percent of citizens downloaded alternative apps, while 21 percent were actively using them.
While 41 percent of survey respondents said that they are planning to shift to Telegram and 35 percent preferred Signal.
Suggestions By Localcircles Survey
They emphasized “WhatsApp and Facebook must reconsider this feedback and make changes to their policy if they are serious about Whatsapp Pay becoming a key player in the UPI payments space in India. Currently, Google Pay, Phone Pe and Paytm have a majority of the market share in this segment,”.
Further, the report confirmed, “Many users may have already had the Signal and Telegram apps on their phones before the new Whatsapp policy changes were proposed,”.
How Did This Start?
Prior to this, WhatsApp informed users of an update in its terms of service and privacy policy at the start of this month,
The messaging app has also informed how it processes user data and partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the social media giant’s products.
Further, it informed that the users will have to agree to the new terms and policy by February 8, 2021, if they want to continue using WhatsApp.
But, later on, it deferred the update to May in the face of the severe backlash.
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