WhatsApp chat?

[WillowKat]

Would anyone be up for a WhatsApp chat?

I think they're fun and a great way to keep in touch with folks and organize activities.

Who likes the idea?

 

[Peter Minde]

Because I'm a nordic skier, I'm an outlier on this primarily alpine forum. However, I would avoid using WhatsApp because they try to hoover up as much of your personal information as possible.

 

[DomB]

Because I'm a nordic skier, I'm an outlier on this primarily alpine forum. However, I would avoid using WhatsApp because they try to hoover up as much of your personal information as possible.

Thanks for the heads up - what type of personal info are we talking about?

 

[Low Angle Life]

WhatsApp is a Meta brand, I don't know why perverse data capture would come as a surprise. That said even seemingly benign apps like Strava take parts in similar exploits. Remember if you don't pay for the product, chances are you are the product.

 

[Peter Minde]

Thanks for the heads up - what type of personal info are we talking about?

WhatsApp collects the time you sent the message, the keyboard keys used - i.e. it collects the message - and the person you sent it to. Has the potential access to your IP address, contact info, the media on your device. There may be a way to set privacy on this, but knowing Meta it probably isn't easy.

 

[Andy_ROC]

I've only used WhatsApp on international vacations because it seems like the preferred communication method with Airbnb hosts and lots of businesses I might contact while there.

Anyway I remove it from my phone once home, though the cat (my info) is already out of the bag.

If you use Facebook I'm sure they already had all that and more. But I'm not on Facebook nor any other social media.