Online privacy has become an increasingly important topic in the tech world. Between frequent security breaches and shady data mining practices, the everyday user is constantly inundated with privacy concerns, no matter where they are on the web. Now, with Facebook-owned WhatsApp forcing a new privacy policy down everyone’s throat under penalty of an ineffective app, the question remains: Will these new changes drive users away? However, some serious backlash has forced the company to temporarily reconsider. Between petitions, think-pieces, and eccentric entrepreneurs speaking out against the new update, WhatsApp decided to push the deadline back to May 15th. The updated privacy policy is largely aimed at improving services based on its parent company’s foray into the ecommerce space. More specifically, the new terms will allow WhatsApp and Facebook to effectively share payment and transaction data in hopes of improving targeted ads across both platforms. This move is clearly rubbing some people the wrong way, but what exactly happens if you don’t agree to the new WhatsApp privacy policy? This all seems dramatic enough that it could seriously ruffle some feathers, but will it be enough to persuade the app’s 2 billion worldwide users to jump ship? In fact, according to research from Pew Research Center, more than half of Americans don’t trust social media sites to protect their data online. Suffice it to say, WhatsApp could very easily see an exodus of users once these measures are firmly planted this spring. Still, the online world is already riddled with privacy loopholes and security snafus. And while the few that take security seriously may move on from the popular messaging app, the complacent masses — whose data is already flowing freely throughout the worldwide web — will likely take the apathetic path and just agree.
