If you’ve already accepted WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy then you’ve got nothing to worry about here. But, for users who’ve held back from pushing the button, there’s a timer counting down with many actions waiting to be taken as soon as it hits zero.
WhatsApp is still firm on its resolve to restrict users who reject its new policy from using the app starting May 15.
Although that seems like a long time, it’s been over a month already since they officially made the announcement.
So, you might want to start figuring out what to do when it all goes down.
What exactly is going down, and how?
For starters, Whatsapp will not be deleting accounts after the deadline. That should bring some sort of relief to users who’re yet to accept the policy.
However, it’s a little dicey but not to worry, we’ll explain that as we go on.
In an attempt to correct erroneous messages that have made the rounds on social media platforms, WhatsApp put out communication on its webpage.
According to the publication, after the deadline, users will only be losing access to some functions on the app if they still haven’t accepted the new policy.
Part of these functions are; the ability to read or send messages from the app. interestingly, users will still be able to receive calls “for a while.”
Sadly, Whatsapp has refused to comment on what time frame is captured in the phrase “for a while”. So, as much as we know, that function could also be cut off anytime from the deadline.
The dicey part
Remember how we said that WhatsApp wouldn’t be deleting your account but there’s a twist to that?
Well, we about to explain what that means. WhatsApp has a policy that speaks to inactive accounts.
According to the provision of that policy, accounts that are reckoned to be inactive are deleted after 120 days of dormancy.
This means that Whatsapp wouldn’t be deleting your account because you rejected its policy. Instead, they’d be throwing you off their platform if, after 120 days, you do not appear to have any need for the app.
WhatsApp maintains that this process helps with security maintenance and protection of users’ privacy.
Content stored locally on a user’s device before the account is deleted will be accessible after re-registration.
Will you still be able to accept the policy after the deadline?
Thankfully, yes. Whatsapp is keeping its doors and windows open for “prodigal sons”.
So, supposing you reconsider your options after the deadline, you can accept WhatsApp’s policy and unlock all functionalities again.
Where it all started
Early this year, WhatsApp announced that it was making few changes to its privacy policy.
The Facebook-owned messaging service made it mandatory for users to accept the terms if they wanted to keep on using the app.
This led to a huge backlash from users who found the compulsion to be sneaky.
Many users concluded that it was a scheme to pass on more user data to Facebook underhandedly.
Although WhatsApp maintains that there’s been no exchange of message, call, location, or contact data between both services.
According to them, the new policy is meant to strengthen support for some business features.
WhatsApp’s sneaky move led millions of users to Signal which is now popularly referred to as the most secured chatting app on the planet.
Elon Musk, the current richest man on the planet also played a major role in aiding users’ jump from WhatsApp to Signal. He’s been doing a lot of that this year with as little effort as tweeting.
WhatsApp’s response
Following the negative sentiments and loss of users’ trust, the WhatsApp team responded with a PR stunt in-app.
The team used the WhatsApp Status channel to display messages, reassuring users of their commitment to keeping their conversations private.
and then