In the last few days there has been a lot of hype regarding WhatsApp’s push for new policies.
It has seen hundreds if not thousands of people jumping ship and opting for alternative applications – notably Telegram as well as Signal.
But what is the hysteria all about?
Perhaps it may be attributed to people who are not really aware of how these social platforms they use operate or what they’ve already agreed to on other services.
What you should know is, if you are using the internet or any Google-affiliated applications – you already have a digital footprint.
Your online habits have already ensured that a profile on you and your interests have been formulated.
This is quite noticeable too – if you scroll down on your Facebook timeline, you’ll see sponsored content personally tailored for you.
Much like you give your phone number and physical address to your local pizza joint or retail store for potential discounts, in order to use WhatsApp, you’re giving away select personal data too.
Some people are under the impression that these new policies mean WhatsApp is now going to access the content of their chats – which is not true.
Facebook cannot access the content of any WhatsApp chat, because it’s encrypted.
If you’re however, involved in criminal activities, obviously there are exceptions where this information will be made available to authorities.
Even so, a legal route has to be pursued before access to this information is granted.
Generally speaking, WhatsApp will have access to your location data, the speed of your phone, the battery level of your phone and all of the information that adds to your digital footprint or profile which allows their advertisers to target you more precisely.
But, the same is true if for instance you use Google, as it has access to all your phone information and your current behaviour – not the content per se, but the activity.
If you consider all the other applications most of us use, like Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube, marketers undoubtedly have a clear picture of who you are, what you search for, and what you buy.
I’m perplexed as to why people are afraid of targeted advertising.
Wouldn’t you much rather prefer seeing advertisements of things you are interested in opposed to irrelevant junk popping up on your timeline?
Running away from WhatsApp, does not mean that your ‘info’ will be safe – as long as you’re ‘surfing’ there are waves of information ripe for the picking.
The only full-proof way to safeguard your information is by completely getting off the internet, cancelling your online banking services, opting for a 3310 opposed to a smart phone and never shopping for anything online again, to name but a few.
In a developing world and with the advancement of technology which is meant to simplify things, their will always be pitfalls.
Adopting archaic ways will perhaps protect your privacy, but as for me, I choose to evolve with the times until something truly impedes on my rights and privacy.
Be that as it may, to each his own.
