WhatsApp is currently facing flak for its new terms of service that go into effect on February 8. It describes how WhatsApp shares your data with Facebook, and users have to accept these terms or lose access to their account. This has naturally caused a stir among WhatsApp users who are now flocking to the privacy-focused messaging app, Signal. It is now the top free app in Apple’s App Store in several countries including India.
Signal earlier today tweeted the App Store charts for top free apps where it currently sits at the number one position. Signal has managed to beat WhatsApp for the top spot in India, Germany, France, Austria, Finland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland. Signal became the top free app in the Google Play Store as well in Hungary and Germany.
Reuters reported that data from Sensor Tower showed Signal was downloaded by more than 100,000 people on Android and iOS devices in the last two days. It added that new installs of WhatsApp fell by 11% in the first week of 2021. Even so, WhatsApp still secured around 10.5 million downloads globally.
Signal has been witnessing a spike in downloads and users as people look for WhatsApp alternatives. Its sudden rise in popularity can be attributed to Elon Musk’s one tweet telling people to use Signal which also made the messaging app run out of verification codes. Musk’s tweet was also retweeted by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.
It’s still going to take long for Signal to catch up to WhatsApp which has over 1.4 billion users worldwide. And we’ll have to wait and see if this actually sustains, and if it causes a dent to WhatsApp’s dominance.