4 ms·

How does this apply to Whatsapp? The way I see, users of whatsapp cannot quit whatsapp. It is like quitting their phone.

p1esk 4y ago
What do you mean? What’s so unique about Whatsapp?
- simula67 4y ago
  Not much, but it has become the default way to share information for many groups: churches, friend/family groups, study groups, and even some government associations. If you do not have WhatsApp it has become very difficult to navigate life. For example, I had uninstalled it before going to college but had to reinstall it when I realized it might stop me from graduating.
  - p1esk 4y ago
    Strange. I’ve never used it, and never needed to use it. Though I regularly use Telegram, Discord, Skype, Slack, and Viber. All conversations with relatives happen on imessage/facetime.
- npteljes 4y ago
  Network effect is what makes these platforms what they are - and what some, like Google Plus, couldn't achieve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect
phillc73 4y ago
I managed to quit WhatsApp for about a year and have recently been sucked right back in. I nearly lost a significant sale because a client claimed they sent me a message on WhatsApp about a new purchase, which I obviously never received. It was only that about a week later I made a client contact call that I found out and the sale was made. More recently, my young son’s sporting clubs only seem to communicate crucial information via WhatsApp - is training going ahead, what time, which equipment to bring and changes in location etc. The above really made me realise that the vast majority of people care not a jot about the same things I do in terms of privacy and autonomy.
nehal3m 4y ago
I did, because I don't want anything to do with Meta. Back when I used it I typed up a copypasta with the links to installers for the platforms I would be available on from then on. Since then I set up a Matrix server with double puppets for those services to add a layer of obscurity (to throw off surveillance from those platforms, their apps are no longer installed anywhere) and to consolidate all messaging to a single app. Works well for me, but then a majority of people I talk to already had alternative platforms or installed them for my sake. The people who didn't bother aren't people I had that close a relationship with anyway.

p1esk 4y ago

What do you mean? What’s so unique about Whatsapp?

simula67 4y ago
Not much, but it has become the default way to share information for many groups: churches, friend/family groups, study groups, and even some government associations. If you do not have WhatsApp it has become very difficult to navigate life. For example, I had uninstalled it before going to college but had to reinstall it when I realized it might stop me from graduating.
- p1esk 4y ago
  Strange. I’ve never used it, and never needed to use it. Though I regularly use Telegram, Discord, Skype, Slack, and Viber. All conversations with relatives happen on imessage/facetime.
npteljes 4y ago
Network effect is what makes these platforms what they are - and what some, like Google Plus, couldn't achieve. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect

phillc73 4y ago

I managed to quit WhatsApp for about a year and have recently been sucked right back in. I nearly lost a significant sale because a client claimed they sent me a message on WhatsApp about a new purchase, which I obviously never received. It was only that about a week later I made a client contact call that I found out and the sale was made. More recently, my young son’s sporting clubs only seem to communicate crucial information via WhatsApp - is training going ahead, what time, which equipment to bring and changes in location etc. The above really made me realise that the vast majority of people care not a jot about the same things I do in terms of privacy and autonomy.

nehal3m 4y ago

I did, because I don't want anything to do with Meta. Back when I used it I typed up a copypasta with the links to installers for the platforms I would be available on from then on. Since then I set up a Matrix server with double puppets for those services to add a layer of obscurity (to throw off surveillance from those platforms, their apps are no longer installed anywhere) and to consolidate all messaging to a single app. Works well for me, but then a majority of people I talk to already had alternative platforms or installed them for my sake. The people who didn't bother aren't people I had that close a relationship with anyway.