Re: WhatsApp

From: Cason Snow <cason.snow_at_nyob>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:59:35 -0400
To: CODE4LIB_at_LISTS.CLIR.ORG
Seeing as WhatsApp is owned by Meta (of Facebook and Instagram fame) I
wouldn't trust it, ever.

On Thu, Jul 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM charles meyer <reachmeplace_at_gmail.com>
wrote:

> My esteemed listmates,
>
> As I navigate through the tributaries of cell phone usage, applications and
> security the app - What'sApp -  is repeatedly mentioned.
>
> Have you found it helpful or not?
>
> It seems its purpose is to provide secure communications so if you wanted
> to share a secure text, photo, video or graphic you'd install that on your
> Android or iPhone.
>
> I was reading that both (or all) parties to this communication would need
> to have installed WhatsApp on their respective cell phones, correct?
>
> I'm reluctant (as are library pastors) to add any (or anymore) apps to our
> cell phones.
>
> 1 - everyone wants you to install their app so you could end up with
> hundreds on your cell.
>
> 2- what assurances do we have that whomever owns WhatsApp isn't sharing
> that info you want kept confidential with others?
>
> Every ejournalist  writes articles re: the top 10 apps you should have on
> your phone.
>
> Are there apps anyone would be willing to share they've found most helpful
> and why?
>
> Data and security breaches are occurring daily and people's identities are
> being co-opted and misused by nefarious people so it's become scary to do
> anything online - even to just check your email as offline alternatives are
> being eliminated at an alarming pace.
>
> We've helped people in the library who are weeping at what's happened to
> them and them clueless about how they got there or what to do.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Charles.
>
> Charlotte County Public Library
>


-- 
Cason Snow MLIS, MA
Head, Cataloging and Metadata
Principal Cataloger
Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
207-581-1670
he/him

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Received on Fri Jul 18 2025 - 07:59:08 EDT