14 DAY TRIAL // WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy has caused an exodus to alternative platforms, with services like Telegram and Signal recording millions of news users in just a few days.
According to Apptopia numbers cited by Reuters, Signal itself is close to getting 1 million new users every day, with Sunday alone bringing a record 810,000 users to the platform. The number has increased by no less than 18 times, and there’s a chance they would continue growing as we get closer to the February deadline when WhatsApp will enforce the new policy.
WhatsApp’s new privacy terms revealed the service can share user data, including the location and phone numbers, with Facebook and other companies.
Users, however, have decided to switch to alternatives, and Signal and Telegram are two of the services seeing the number of news users registering for an account skyrocketing.
The exodus continues
Telegram founder Pavel Durov revealed earlier this week the service recorded no less than 25 million new users in the last 72 hours. Telegram now has over 500 million monthly active users, Durov says, and the reason for the migration is as easy as it could be: not everyone agrees with WhatsApp sharing user data with Facebook and others so they seek an alternative more committed to their privacy.
“People no longer want to exchange their privacy for free services. They no longer want to be held hostage by tech monopolies that seem to think they can get away with anything as long as their apps have a critical mass of users,” Durov says.
“With half a billion active users and accelerating growth, Telegram has become the largest refuge for those seeking a communication platform committed to privacy and security. We take this responsibility very seriously. We won’t let you down.”
Signal has also confirmed recently its account verification servers had a hard time dealing with the record number of new users, but all issues have already been resolved and the service is now ready for anyone willing to create a new account.