Infographic: What’s Up With Whatsapp’s March
2021 Privacy Policy Update?

OUR TAKE ON THE WHATSAPP PRIVACY POLICY Changes

You probably got the notification at the same time we did - the Whatsapp privacy policy got a 2021 update, and with minimal information we were being asked to either accept the new updates or delete the app.

The initial reaction to Whatsapp’s latest privacy policy changes was a swift climb from dismay to outrage. App users publicly called them out and questioned Facebook’s motives for attempting to fly under the radar, with a privacy policy update of such apparent magnitude.

Backlash to the Whatsapp privacy policy changes resulted in a mass exodus of millions of users as they ditched the Facebook owned app. Heading for competitors in droves, Signal sign ups rose sharply from 246,000 to 8.8 million and 25 million more opted for Telegram. The collective power of the people prompted an unprecedented response from Facebook in the form of a targeted PR campaign to allay people’s fears, and clarify the actual impact of the update. The update itself was also pushed from Feb 8 to May 15 this year.