Signal and Telegram downloads skyrocket after WhatsApp announced it will share data with Facebook

WhatsApp’s updated policies where they seek the consent of its users that their personal information will be shared with Facebook has drastically shifted the number of WhatsApp users towards Signal and Telegram.

It is so, that we have seen Signal and Telegram topping all the charts. On both App Store and Play Store.

Facebook has always been doubted on misusing the users information. Now that WhatsApp policy clearly says that the information of the users will be shared with Facebook, people have started looking for other options. To their rescue have arrived, Signal and Telegram.

Why Signal and Telegram topped all the charts ?

After thinking about the privacy of a user’s information, WhatsApp was given a backleash. People started looking out for other options.

According to the numbers by analytics firm Sensor Tower, Signal gained more than 1.2 million downloads and Telegram clocked 1.7 million downloads in the days after WhatsApp’s new Privacy Policy and Terms of Use rolled out for users. That being said, WhatsApp has still clocked 10.5 million downloads in the first 7 days of 2021, though that is 11% lesser than a week before.

Signal

Signal is a cross-platform encrypted messaging service developed by the Signal Foundation and Signal Messenger. It uses the Internet to send one-to-one and group messages, which can include files, voice notes, images and videos.

The best part about Signal is its tagline which says,”Say Hello to Privacy”. Now this is something that almost everyone is looking for, especially at this point of time.

Signal updated some of the features recently.

Here’s a sneak peek at some new Signal features that will start rolling out in a few days:

• Chat wallpapers!
• About field for your Signal profile
• Animated stickers
• For iOS: Media auto-download settings and full-screen profile photos (to match Android)

Good morning 🇮🇳! pic.twitter.com/KEAbhMswRI

— Signal (@signalapp) January 12, 2021

Telegram

Telegram is a freeware, cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging software and service. The service also has video calling, VoIP, file sharing and other features. It was initially launched for iOS on 14 August 2013 and Android in October 2013.

Reasons for Signal and Telegram skyrocket downloads

Recently Elon Musk asked 41.9 million followers to download and use Signal instead.

Use Signal

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021

Also, Paytm owner, Vijay Shekhar Sharma joined the league and said the same.

They say, market has power. We are the largest market.
Here in India WhatsApp / Facebook are abusing their monopoly & taking away millions of users’ privacy for granted.
We should move on to @signalapp NOW.
It is upto us to become victim or reject such moves. https://t.co/iCmKoyLc5x

— Vijay Shekhar Sharma (@vijayshekhar) January 11, 2021

Clearly, not many people are happy with the change in the privacy policy by WhatsApp. This has majorly been the prominent reason for downfall of WhatsApp and rise of Signal and Telegram.

Signal’s reaction on the massive downloads

Look at what you’ve done. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/0YuqyZXtgP

— Signal (@signalapp) January 8, 2021

The company seems to be overwhelmed with the number 1 position of the app overnight.

Summary

The drastic and dramatic number of downloads of Signal and Telegram app have made them heroes of the messaging. WhatsApp lost its charm after loosing ‘the most’ asked for feature, Privacy. This indeed has somewhere broken the trust of millions of users from both WhatsApp and Facebook.

Tell us in the comment section below, how many of you have downloaded Signal and Telegram app.

We would love to know the number of our readers who have followed the trend.