Is Telegram really the answer to WhatsApp.

It took me some time to realize why everyone in my family and friends circle is asking me to move away from WhatsApp and why all of a sudden messaging apps like Telegram and Signal have become everyone's favorites. Then someone told me that WhatsApp has updated its terms of use and privacy policy and that is why everyone is losing their minds. And when I asked what's new with that I got some nasty looks and messages basically saying "Dude, what about our privacy...?"

So, what is new?

WhatsApp is telling us that they'll be sharing our personal details with Facebook with our consent going forward. That is perhaps their way of saying that so far it was being done without our formal consent but now we are being informed about it.

Data privacy or any kind of privacy for that matter does not exist in today's world. We sold it consensually long time back to the Internet. 

We have been made to believe that the apps that we use every day throughout the day are free for us. But just like there are no free lunches, there are no free apps. 

As some people would say that if you are not paying for it, you are the product. You are or the changes in your beliefs and perceptions over a period of time is being sold to the people who pay for the advertisements.

So if you haven't freaked out until now, there's no reason you should now just because someone asked for consent. But if you do absolutely have to freak out it should not be about WhatsApp or Facebook but about your addiction to your phone and the messaging apps or any app for that matter.

Let's talk to each other and not to our phones and laptops.