WhatsApp turns to status messages to tell users that it’s safe to use

WhatsApp has had its hands full post January 6 when they changed their privacy and user policy. Users got very concerned with the fact that Facebook might be reading every message they send out and many chose to migrate to other messaging solutions like Telegram and Signal. WhatsApp has tried to clarify that private messages on the app are as secure as they always were, but many users are still non convinced.

In order to clarify and assure users that the platform remains safe, WhatsApp has turned to one of the in-app features to spread the messages. The Facebook-owned messaging platform had earlier issued official statements and even took out a full-page advertisement in newspapers to get its point across.

WhatsApp has now started posting status messages on the app to connect with users directly to try and convince them that the chats are end-to-end encrypted and that no one, not even Facebook, can read them. It’s just between you and the other person you are chatting with.

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WhatsApp told The Verge that “there’s been a lot of misinformation and confusion around our recent update and we want to help everyone understand the facts behind how WhatsApp protects people’s privacy and security.”

“Going forward, we’re going to provide updates to people in the Status tab so people hear from WhatsApp directly. Our first update reaffirms that WhatsApp cannot see your personal messages, and neither can Facebook, because they are protected by end-to-end encryption,” WhatsApp added in the statement.

WhatsApp has also explained the change in the privacy policy on its FAQ pages, stating - “We want to be clear that the policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family in any way. The changes are related to optional business features on WhatsApp, and provides further transparency about how we collect and use data.”