WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram will be Costly

Virinchi

If someone is still assuming that whatsapp, FB, Insta are free and bought an chinese android phone just to use these apps, then they better switch back to 2G phones instead of upgrading to 5G phones later.

Already Youtube is pushing everyone to subscribe for Premium. Facebook has merged WhatsApp, Instagram data and has already sold it to other data mining companies. Also using them to 'serve you better ads'.

Gmail will not cost you anything because you either paid for Android or its already serving you Ads/promotions.

Soon, whatsapp business app will switch from a notification-based pricing model to a conversation-based pricing model. Businesses will be charged per conversation which includes all messages delivered in a 24 hour session.

Cost per conversation between $0.03 to$ 0.10 and businesses will levy these expenses on customers (you).

Random businesses in your area will start sending their business ads through whatsapp (It already started)

Nivedita

Any closed source code app should be uninstalled like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram.

If you want messaging app then signal is best open source one with highest privacy.

People who have lot of free time, nothing else to do with life cannot quit WhatsApp because of groups.

Apparao

A proposal called the "Banning Surveillance Advertising Act" could change big tech advertising models entirely, affecting the ad business of companies such as Facebook and Google. This could be huge as there's a whole online adverting industry built on using online ad targeting.

The bill, if passed can end collection and hoarding of users data through apps, cookies, trackers etc.

At least google has done some great service like androids, maps but Facebook has done nothing

Akhil.Goel

Nivedita ji, Signal is not open source but yes its an alternative and more secure. Whats app business to do consent based sms is still paid.. But it will always be free for general use.. Cant share everything but u I can tell u these things being the Sr Product Manager of India first CPASS platform..

Varenya

Signal is open source. Its mobile clients are published under the GPL-3.0-only license, while the desktop client and server are published under the AGPL-3.0-only license. Signal and Telegram have mobile versions for andrioid and iOS, and also have desktop versions for windows, MacOS and Linux. Its source code is available. All Facebook owned apps are for data mining.

If anything is FREE, you are the PRODUCT.

Actually many people dont need these 3rd party apps which collect data. iphone users already have iMessage for sending text/pics/documents and Facetime for video calls. Andoid users have google due for video chats. Groups are the main reason why these apps are surviving

Akhil.Goel

Thank you sir for enlightenment. Even with the current open source license please ask someone to try and use the code the core encryption is licensed and requires certain permissions and so many other complications.

Here is the link to the article when signal publically announced its updated policy.

https://pocketnow.com/like-whatsapp-signal-just-jumped-the-shark-and-stops-caring-so-much-about-privacy

A group who took onus of maintaining yahoo groups repository is struggling for money and signal will do charity for millions just like that.. I hang my boots here..

Radha

This below line is right. Your addiction will cost your contacts too just like you share all contact details with apps like Truecaller. Time to use native apps like iMessage, facetime, Google duo and quit social media

If anything is FREE, you are the PRODUCT.

Bhavani

Truecaller is a Spyware. WhatsApp payments will have errors in future which can prove to be expensive. You need to use desktop version of all websites with browser cache being cleared regularly. If they say - It's better in App, then they just want your data

Quincy

Bhavani If they say - It's better in App, then they just want your data

apart from BIG players who want your data, small players need to show more APP downloads to get more funds / advertisers etc.

Sushma

Indian govt is planning to regulate these messaging and social media apps. Will it reduce usage or will people still use them ?

Earlier and even now to some extent, self hosted forums were mediums to express opinions and discuss. Will such forums make a comeback

Star.Dust

Sushma Australian government has already regulated every activity online. All your social media accounts need to be updated with them

Vaani

More than the monetary cost, they actually cost your time and pump in unnecessary garbage into your brain. Only few companies who own social media and few celebrities make money out of it. Rest of the herd will someday realize this and find a better time pass.

First to HIT you will be payment apps