If you own a smartphone, there is a very high chance that you are a WhatsApp user. The simple and lightweight online messaging application has embedded itself into our lives and has become indispensable. Family groups, friend groups, office groups, play groups and many other groups like these see millions of conversations happening on a daily basis. Millions of people across the world use Whatsapp for multiple purposes. Beginning from a simple user to user online text messaging app, over the years Whatsapp has grown exponentially by adding a lot of features like payments, location sharing, pictures and video sharing, document sharing, group chats and calls.
Whatsapp users received a message upon opening the app on their phone which conveyed information regarding a privacy policy update. The notification carried information regarding how Whatsapp processes user data and how Whatsapp partners with Facebook to offer integration across Facebook company products. Failure to accept the policy meant a user could not use Whatsapp anymore after February 8th, 2021. This led to a huge outcry on social media about how Whatsapp is abusing user data and user privacy. Facebook and Whatsapp have always been in the spotlight time and again around discussions regarding user data privacy. But the latest policy update from Whatsapp looked like the last straw.
Millions across the world were looking for alternate platforms to migrate to from Whatsapp where they felt their data would be protected. Telegram and another recent app named Signal, suddenly saw an influx of new users following the recent Whatsapp privacy policy update.
Signal in particular saw a huge spurt in registrations following Tesla founder Elon Musk’s tweet which said Signal in response to a user asking Musk what is a good alternative to Whatsapp.
On January 12th, 2021, nearly 800,000 users installed Signal globally. Signal could not handle the influx and their SMS verification failed to function properly. Signal has since then added more servers to cope with the surge in app downloads. Signal said the only information it collects is the phone number and they do not assign a name to the number. Whatsapp on the other hand collects a slew of data as shown in the picture below.
Whatsapp released a statement which said it is committed to protecting user data privacy and that their end to end encryption still works. Their response says “Our privacy policy update does not affect the privacy of your messages with friends or family (sic.)”
We want to address some rumors and be 100% clear we continue to protect your private messages with end-to-end encryption. pic.twitter.com/6qDnzQ98MP
Whatsapp data is instead used to improve Facebook user experience. Facebook is benefiting from Whatsapp by generating a huge wealth of consumer behavior data which inturn is being used to improve the ads on Facebook.
In this day and age when the internet is making its way to every nook and corner of the world, companies are increasingly developing an internet ecosystem in order to make lives easier. These ecosystems learn from gathering continuous data. While it is hard to pinpoint how much data should be collected and kept private and how much could be used to improve quality of lives, the choice ultimately lies with the individual.
Let us know if you are going to continue using Whatsapp or will move to SIgnal in the comments below.
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced a major reduction in its subscription prices across India, slashing fees by up to 48%. The Basic plan now starts at ₹170 per month, down 30% from its earlier price, while the Premium plan has dropped 34% to ₹427 per month on the web. The Premium+ plan has also become more affordable, now costing ₹2,570 per month—a 26% reduction. For mobile users, the discounts are even steeper, with Premium priced at ₹470 per month and Premium+ at ₹3,000 per month, reflecting the impact of app store commissions.
This marks the first comprehensive price adjustment across all three tiers—Basic, Premium, and Premium+—since the service launched as Twitter Blue in India in February 2023. The move comes shortly after Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI, rolled out the new Grok 4 model and follows xAI’s acquisition of X earlier this year. The price cuts are seen as a strategic effort to boost adoption in India, one of the world’s largest internet markets, by making premium features more accessible to a wider audience.
Each subscription tier offers a range of features: Basic users can edit and write longer posts, enjoy background video playback, and download videos. Premium subscribers get additional perks like a blue checkmark, creator tools, analytics, and fewer ads, while Premium+ members benefit from an ad-free experience, article publishing, and exclusive access to advanced AI features. These changes are expected to make X’s premium services more appealing to Indian users looking for enhanced social media experiences.
Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X (formerly Twitter), announced her resignation on July 9, 2025, bringing her two-year leadership of Elon Musk’s social media platform to a close. Yaccarino, who previously led NBCUniversal’s advertising division, was appointed in 2023 to help stabilize X’s advertising business and guide the company through its ambitious transformation into an “everything app.” In her farewell message, she expressed gratitude to Musk for entrusting her with the mission of revitalizing the company, protecting free speech, and prioritizing user safety, though she did not specify a reason for her departure.
Her exit comes at a turbulent moment for X, following the recent controversy involving Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, which posted antisemitic content referencing Adolf Hitler. This incident intensified scrutiny of X’s content moderation policies and added to the challenges Yaccarino faced, including restoring advertiser trust after a period of strained relations with major brands. Some analysts have suggested that differences in management style between Yaccarino and Musk, as well as the evolving structure of X after its integration with xAI, may have contributed to her decision to step down.
Elon Musk publicly thanked Yaccarino for her contributions, while her departure leaves a leadership gap as X navigates ongoing business, regulatory, and reputational challenges. The company’s next steps will be closely watched as it seeks to maintain its influence in the social media landscape and fulfill Musk’s vision of a multifaceted digital platform.
Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited, a joint venture between Jio Financial Services and BlackRock Inc., has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to commence operations as a brokerage firm. The regulatory nod, granted via a certificate of registration issued on June 25, 2025, allows the company to function as both a stockbroker and a clearing member in India’s financial markets. This milestone follows a series of regulatory clearances for the Jio BlackRock ecosystem, including approvals for mutual fund and investment advisory businesses, underscoring the joint venture’s ambition to build a comprehensive, digital-first financial services platform.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of Jio BlackRock Investment Advisers, the broking arm aims to deliver affordable, transparent, and technology-driven execution services to Indian investors. The company’s leadership has emphasized that the new platform will empower self-directed investors with seamless execution capabilities, complementing its broader strategy to democratize access to investment solutions in India. The approval is expected to further strengthen Jio BlackRock’s position in the rapidly expanding financial services sector, offering a full suite of products from mutual funds and advisory to brokerage, all accessible through user-friendly digital channels.
The market responded positively to the news, with Jio Financial Services shares rising over 4 percent following the announcement. Industry analysts view this regulatory milestone as a significant step in Jio BlackRock’s efforts to transform India’s investment landscape, moving the country closer to becoming a nation of investors rather than just savers.
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June 12, 2025 at 3:49 am
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