WhatsApp uses its own status feature to clarify privacy concerns

Millions of users around the world turned away from the Facebook owned messaging service – WhatsApp after its new policy raising privacy concerns.

WhatsApp announced on 4^th of this month that it will be updating its privacy practices, saying it reserved the right to share some user data, including phone numbers and locations, across its other units such as Messenger and Instagram.

The service then began sending out in-app notifications to its users, saying that they had to accept the new terms by February 8 or lose access to the messaging service.

This move drew fire from the users globally, as well as governments on fears it would cross privacy lines and also triggered a number of investigations.

Moreover, the prompted and enraged users switched to to alternative apps, including Signal and Telegram.

However, after the worldwide condemnation WhatsApp joined its own Status feature in an attempt to combat misinformation regarding the changes to their privacy policy.

WhatsApp will also use the feature to share information about changes to the app and upcoming features.

WhatsApp today on its first-ever Status posts said, “We’ll let you know about new features and updates here.”

It added, “One thing that isn’t new is our commitment to your privacy.”

The messaging service also reiterated that it “can’t read or listen to your personal conversations as they’re end-to-end encrypted”.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

#WhatsApp now i can chat with #mark_janiii about whats aap 🤣 pic.twitter.com/hYTmq7wY7A

— Faiz ke memes (@FaizKhanNiazi4) January 28, 2021

#WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/xeQC9oHTAX

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— Mansoor Ali (@1166mansoor) January 28, 2021

Have you seen it yet??😁😁😁@WhatsApp on status…#WhatsApp #MarkZuckerberg#WhatsApp #وزیراعظم_عمران_خان_زندہ_باد #MotivationalQuotes #thursdaymorning #thursdayvibes #Iran @markzbarabak @wa_status @FacebookWatch pic.twitter.com/kUpiFugZEG

— Mian Zubair (@MianZub72259244) January 28, 2021

#WhatsApp
Finally WhatsApp have WhatsApp 😂#WhatsApp pic.twitter.com/2vQyNKvq9c

— Hamza Sheikh (@HamzaSh70757168) January 28, 2021

It is pertinent to mention here that, although WhatsApp has informed about the changes related to privacy updates, however, there is no indication that the service will scuttle or delay the impending move.