New Delhi: The latest changes in WhatsApp’s privacy policy seem to have led a section of users to migrate to other instant messaging services such as Signal and Telegram. A recent survey, which was released Friday, has noted that five per cent respondents in India have deleted WhatsApp, downloaded alternate apps and are actively using them.
Conducted by LocalCircles, the survey found that while 55 per cent respondents have downloaded alternative apps, 21 per cent are actively using them. A community social media platform, LocalCircles had conducted the survey among 17,000 respondents from 232 districts of India, between 23 and 28 January.
The survey also revealed that 16 per cent of those who have downloaded other messaging apps had not deleted WhatsApp, and only reduced its usage. A total of 22 per cent users claimed to have drastically reduced WhatsApp usage.
Also read: WhatsApp treating Indian users differently from Europeans matter of concern, Centre to HC
‘92% won’t use WhatsApp’s payment feature’
After WhatsApp announced it policy update, indicating that user data would be shared with its parent company, Facebook, and with third-party service providers, as many as 75 per cent respondents said they will not use the platform’s business chat and payment feature.
Only one per cent agreed to use both the features if the privacy policy was updated.
Following user backlash, WhatsApp had on 16 January delayed the introduction of the new privacy policy to 15 May. But as many as 92 per cent respondents said they will not use WhatsApp Pay, the platform’s payment feature, if the privacy policy comes into effect in May.
Localcircles had conducted another survey in January, in which 15 per cent of its 24,000 respondents indicated that they will stop using WhatsApp and move to other platforms. Around 67 per cent had also said they will discontinue WhatsApp business accounts if the platform shares user and transaction information with Facebook and other third parties.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology had also written to WhatsApp, asking them to withdraw the proposed policy changes and sharing of user data.
Also read: Indian startups can help post-pandemic recovery, but need revised data protection bill