![#WhatsappPrivacy #WhatsappPrivacy](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/036/270/whatsapp.jpg)
#WhatsappPrivacy
Part of a series on WhatsApp. [View Related Entries]
About
#WhatsappPrivacy is a hashtag that became popular in early 2021 used to share memes and react to WhatsApp's announced privacy policy changes, which many saw as being in violation of their privacy.
Origin
In early January, 2021, WhatsApp users began receiving an in-app notification asking them to accept a mandatory change to the privacy policy by February 8th that allows the app to share certain data with other Facebook apps (shown below). If users do not accept the policy by that date, they cannot use their accounts anymore according to the message.
![The New Privacy Policy In Town WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy. Key updates include more information about: WhatsApp's service and how we process your data. How businesses can use Facebook hosted services to store and manage their WhatsApp chats. How we partner with Facebook to offer integrations across the Facebook Company Products. By tapping Agree, you accept the new terms and privacy policy, which take effect on February 8, 2021. After this date, you'll need to accept these updates to continue using WhatsApp. You can also visit the Help Center if you would prefer to delete your account and would like more information. Agree](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/892/d81.jpg)
On January 5th, @surya_nj tweeted,[3] "If you are using something for free then you are the product #WhatsAppPrivacy" along with an image of the privacy policy change screen, representing the earliest use of the hashtag in relation to the privacy policy change (shown below). On January 6th, several news outlets began reporting on the change on January 6th, including WION[1] and Mashable India.[2]
![you are the product JnSurya @surya_jn · Jan 5 000 If you are using something for free then you are the product. #WhatsAppPrivacy WhatsApp is updating its terms and privacy policy. Key updates include more information about: WhatsApp's service and how we process your data.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/893/549.png)
Spread
More Twitter users began using the hashtag over the course of the day as news of WhatsApps' new privacy policy spread. On January 6th, @bhondumemer tweeted,[4] "People rushing towards Telegram after new #WhatsappPrivacy update:" along with an image of many Indian people holding onto a moving train, garnering over 690 likes in 6 days (shown below, left). @KushalTripathi tweeted[5] another meme the same day, garnering over 800 likes in a comparable span of time (shown below, right).
![big time rush Ritwesh 000 @bhondumemer People rushing towards Telegram after new #WhatsappPrivacy update : 0000Jhampakjhum](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/896/687.png)
![no privacy Kushal Tripathi @KushalTripathi 000 #WhatsApp : your messages are end to end encrypted Also whatsapp after new policy: #WhatsappPrivacy](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/902/86c.png)
On January 7th, @vershaposts tweeted[9] a meme referencing the situation, garnering over 680 likes in 5 days (shown below, left). The image was re-uploaded to /r/memes[10] by /u/vapeshape on January 11th, garnering over 23,000 upvotes in a day. On the same day, Privacy International posted a meme to Twitter[11] critiquing WhatsApp, garnering over 2,300 likes and 1,100 retweets in a comparable span of time (shown below, right). On January 8th, Independent[6] reported on the change to Whatsapp's privacy policy.
![data slurp Facebook WhatsApp User data](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/914/848.jpg)
![gottem 99 Messages and calls are end-to-end encrypted. But just so you know, from now on, our parent company Facebook will mine the s--- out of your data to sell you to advertisers. PI privacyinternational.org](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/916/d82.jpg)
On January 11th, WhatsApp tweeted[8] "We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption" along with a graphic showing exactly what was changing in a more clear way, garnering over 16,700 likes and 9,300 retweets in a day (shown below). Reception to the post was highly negative based on user comments, many of which accuse the developers of lying.
![here's the scoop WhatsApp @WhatsApp 000 We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to- end encryption. WhatsApp Protects and Secures Your Private Messages WhatsApp cannot see your private messages or hear your calls and neither can Facebook. WhatsApp does not keep Z logs of who everyone is WhatsApp cannot see your shared location and messaging or calling. neither can Facebook. WhatsApp does not WhatsApp groups share your contacts remain private. with Facebook. You can set your You can download messages to disappear. your data.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/912/08e.png)
On January 12th, Independent[7] published a piece claiming that WhatsApp's rival Telegram saw a 500% increase in traffic following the announcement. On the same day, /u/offender_defender _ posted a meme referencing the situation to /r/dankmemes,[12] garnering over 49,000 upvotes in 14 hours (shown below).
![they did it! Crush :I love you too. whatsapp office:](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/936/1d7.jpg)
Various Examples
![new meat WhatsApp : introduces new Policy privacy](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/922/e38.jpg)
![i thought they'd make it... Me: Ask my Crush over WhatsApp and get rejected Meanwhile in the WhatsApp Office u/AskTrashMeme](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/924/9d4.jpg)
![The Chad Signal People who don't like WhatsApp new privacy policy My drug dealer Using signal](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/926/7ff.jpg)
![just stop trying bro الف @arbax_ New Privacy Policy. #WhatsappPrivacy MESSAGES now Mark Zuckerberg She is talking to some other dude. Stop trying. 22:41 / Haramiparindey You back? 22:41 / + I love you](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/931/cf5.png)
![i got a secret f](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/933/c0a.jpg)
![nice and private Whatsapp: We have updated our privacy policy. PUSH](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/001/988/934/f1b.jpg)
Search Interest
External References
[1] WION – WhatsApp updates privacy policy, asks users to accept terms or app will be deleted
[2] Mashable India – WhatsApp Has Updated Its Terms And Privacy Policy: Here's Why You've Been Receiving Prompts
[3] Twitter – you are the product
[4] Twitter – People rushing towards telegram …
[5] Twitter – Whatsapp after new policy…
[6] Independent – WHATSAPP FORCES USERS TO AGREE TO SHARE PRIVATE DATA INCLUDING PHONE NUMBER WITH FACEBOOK
[7] Independent – WHATSAPP RIVAL TELEGRAM SEES NEW USERS RISE 500% AMID EXODUS FROM FACEBOOK-OWNED APP
[8] Twitter – We want to address some rumors…
[9] Twitter – New update on privacy policy of WhatsApp be like…
[10] Reddit – WhatsApp's updated privacy policy.
[11] Twitter – Now that #WhatsApp have updated their terms, forcing users to share their data with #Facebook, here's our suggested update to that notification you see at the top of your chats.
[12] Reddit – Throw me a party zucc
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Top Comments
googolplexbyte
Jan 12, 2021 at 06:44PM EST
DirkDiggums
Jan 14, 2021 at 05:47PM EST