1 week Ago
I’m finishing up a conversation with someone I’ve just met, and they ask to add me on WhatsApp. I can’t even begin to describe the surprise on their faces when I say I’m not using WhatsApp. Am I the only one not using what’s likely the single most popular chat app in the world? With more than two billion unique active users , WhatsApp has made its mark on the world.
It’s even projected to cross three billion in 2025 . Plus, 180 countries currently use it, making it ideal for staying in contact, no matter where you live. Despite starting in 2009, the popular chat app has just started making waves in the US and UK in the last few years.
Maybe that’s why I’m not using it yet? Or am I just a cavewoman holding fast to my built-in messaging app while Silicon Valley moves on without me? I don’t care what any experts say – email isn’t dead. If the number of spam messages I get each day are any indication, email is alive and well. But honestly, it’s my go-to for staying in touch with professional contacts, conducting business, and even keeping up with several close friends.
Plus, if I’m networking online, most everyone I’ve met has a profile on LinkedIn, so I just use the built-in chat app versus having to install yet another app on my phone. I get notifications via email when someone messages me on LinkedIn, so email works well for keeping me in the loop. One reason I’m not using WhatsApp is due to privacy concerns.
I don’t trust Meta to keep my info private. And, while privacy has supposedly gotten better in recent years with WhatsApp, it’s not enough for me to go all in and make the switch. It’s also why I don’t use Facebook Messenger.
I know stock messaging apps aren’t well known for keeping data private, at least I know what to expect. With WhatsApp and Meta, I have no clue what is happening with my data. I just know it’s not as private as the app claims it is.
There are some great WhatsApp alternatives that focus more on privacy. You just have to make sure your contacts switch too. Many are moving to Telegram , just for privacy reasons.
For me, WhatsApp would be just another app sitting on my phone. It’s not necessary for me to stay in contact. And, as I’ve already pointed out, I’m not a huge fan of Meta and how the company manages data.
I even stopped using Facebook years ago, and despite what some believe, my digital identity didn’t fade away. So far, everyone who wanted to connect on WhatsApp has had no problem contacting me in other ways. Plus, in the US at least, WhatsApp isn’t required for sending payments or being contacted by businesses.
If apps are involved, most businesses here use PayPal, Stripe, Venmo, etc. And, of course, just use email or live chat on their sites for customer service. I have a few friends that have hundreds of contacts on WhatsApp.
Between work, friends, and family, their phones never stop dinging. By keeping my work life out of my messaging app, I’m not constantly being messaged about work. I use Slack, LinkedIn, and email for work purposes.
I use my chat/messaging app just for close friends and family. And, since I only have a small group I contact frequently, I can focus on the conversations that matter most to me versus managing more than a hundred contacts, most of which would be people I barely know. Apple would love if the world stopped using Android and switched to iOS and iMessages.
In fact, there was a push to restrict Android users from messaging iPhone users. That didn’t go over well, especially when a good chunk of the world made it clear they use WhatsApp, so it wouldn’t matter at all. Since I’m not using WhatsApp, I was a little worried about texting some of my Apple-centric friends.
Yet, since all that happened was a bubble color change, I don’t need to download a separate chat app just to talk to my friends. Why didn’t I just go ahead and switch when those rumors started? WhatsApp doesn’t have any features that stand out to me. My built-in messaging app does everything I need: send texts, emojis, GIFs, images, etc.
I really don’t need special stickers, to send payments, or even post channel updates. I could’ve just stayed on Facebook if I wanted to do all that. A chat app would need to be extra innovative for me to switch over.
Sure, WhatsApp is a little fancier, but I’m content with functional and easy to use. I get a few phishing texts per month with my stock chat app. Yet, I’m constantly receiving emails and direct messages on various platforms asking me to connect on WhatsApp.
These aren’t legitimate requests, though. They’re scams. I can’t tell you how many writer friends I’ve gotten requests from, only to contact them directly (email or direct message on the platform we share), only to find out it’s not them at all.
I just feel safer not using WhatsApp. Call me old school or even boring, but I don’t need anything complex. I only want to send a quick message to check in, make plans, or share a funny meme.
I already have calling on my phone, and Google Meet works fine for voice calls. And, honestly, I’ve never had a text or call so personal that I needed encryption. Despite living in the U.
S., I’m starting to feel more and more like an oddity for not using WhatsApp. Will I switch soon? Probably not.
Just give me my Samsung messaging app and my email, and I’m all set. If you prefer WhatsApp, learn how to quickly find someone on the app , and discover how to use WhatsApp lists . Image credit: Unsplash .
All screenshots by Crystal Crowder. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps.
She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems..
