Are you not a Facebook person? One of the rare few resisting the all-pervasive social media platform? Well, you might be in for an ugly betrayal from your Internet-based free messenger, WhatsApp.
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ContributeWhatsApp, in a blog entry on August 25, announced that it will share user information with its parent company, Facebook. “…by connecting your phone number with Facebook’s systems, Facebook can offer better friend suggestions and show you more relevant ads if you have an account with them,” the blog post said.
The good news, though, is that you can stop Facebook from targetting you with ads by not sharing your number with WhatsApp for that purpose. WhatsApp explains here how can you do that. “Before you tap “Agree” to accept our updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy just tap “Read” and uncheck the box.” However, your number will still be used to improve features.
In case you have already agreed to the updated Terms and conditions, you have 30 days to change your mind by going to “Settings > Account > Share my account info” in the app. You can uncheck the box next to “Share my account info”.
The move to integrate user information comes as part of WhatsApp changing its “terms and privacy policy for the first time in four years, as part of our plans to test ways for people to communicate with businesses in the months ahead.”
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