In early January 2021, WhatsApp updated terms of use instant messaging app. Concretely, WhatsApp will now automatically share all your personal data with its parent company, Facebook. In 2014, the California social network did indeed buy the messaging app for $16 billion. Among the data to be collected by Facebook, especially “time, frequency and duration of your activities and interactions”, “your IP addresses and other data such as geocodes of phone numbers and your general location (city and country)” or “your profile picture”. If you do not agree to these new terms, WhatsApp, Close your account as of February 8, 2021.
But European WhatsApp users are not in the same boat as Internet users in the rest of the world. In Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) effectively prevents Facebook from dictating its terms to users. “It was falsely reported that the latest Terms of Service and Privacy Policy require users in the European region to agree to share data with Facebook for advertising purposes if they wish to continue using the service. Niamh Sweeney, WhatsApp’s privacy manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement on his Twitter account. Regardless, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, intends to strengthen the connections between all the apps of the group. The CEO makes no secret of his intention to merge WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger.
Why are WhatsApp users switching to Signal?
Anyway, the changes made by WhatsApp have created a real migration of users to Signal, a messaging app known for protecting the privacy of its members. From 7 January, Signal records an explosion in registration requests. A few days later, Signal became the most downloaded app on Android and iOS worldwide. Tesla CEO Elon Musk even recommended internet users to switch to Signal.
Like WhatsApp, Signal lets you exchange messages, photos, videos, or make audio and video calls with your contacts. But unlike the messaging app acquired by Facebook, Signal regularly Praised for respecting the privacy of its users. In 2020 Mozilla Foundation appointed Signal “the most secure communication app”. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that many Internet users now prefer Signal to WhatsApp. If that’s your case, here’s how to switch easily.
How to install Signal?
It only takes a few minutes to install and sign up for Signal. It only takes a few minutes to get in touch with your loved ones who have already joined the secure messaging app. We explain all the steps below:
- Download Signal from: PlayStore or on app store
- Agree to receive Signal notifications on your smartphone
- Grant access to your contacts
- Enter your phone number
- Signal will send you a 6 digit code per message
- Enter this code in the app
- To identify a PIN code as password
- Add contacts served by Signal
How to exit WhatsApp?
In a second step, you will definitely have to opt out of WhatsApp and delete your account. However, before you permanently delete your account, we will advise you:Import your WhatsApp group to Signal. This requires that all members of the group have already joined Signal. Therefore, you will need to convince your relatives to migrate first. When done, follow the manipulation below:
- Open Signal
- Tap the pencil icon in the top right
- click New Group
- Select group members
- Name the group
- Click on the group name at the top of the screen
- enter inside group link
- tick group link
- Copy the link offered by Signal and forward it to your WhatsApp group
After your group members find each other on Signal, you can finally delete your WhatsApp account. Here’s how:
- Open whatsapp app on mobile and go to: Settingsin the upper right corner of the screen
- enter inside Bill > delete my account
- Then follow the onscreen instructions to confirm the deletion of your account.
We hope this tutorial helped you easily switch from WhatsApp to Signal. If, despite our attention, an error has entered this file, we invite you to let us know in the comments below.
