Audio By Carbonatix
Following WhatsApp's latest update in their terms of service, messaging apps Signal and Telegram have seen a sudden increase in their subscriber count.
The controversial update to WhatsApp's terms, asking users to allow their personal data to be shared with its owner Facebook, stirred a lot of debate about privacy concerns, causing some users to instantly delete the app.
Signal's popularity shot up further on Thursday after it was endorsed by Elon Musk, who has one of the most-followed accounts on Twitter and by Twitter's own top boss, Jack Dorsey.
Ironically, WhatsApp uses Signal's end-to-end encryption protocol to secure users' chats.
More than 100,000 users installed Signal across the app stores of Apple and Google in the last two days, while Telegram picked up nearly 2.2 million downloads, according to data analytics firm Sensor Tower.
New installs of WhatsApp fell 11% in the first seven days of 2021 compared with the prior week, but that still amounted to an estimated 10.5 million downloads globally, Sensor Tower said.
.
Latest Stories
-
Former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to stand down as MP to focus on world affairs
2 minutes -
Built to Last, Left to Rot: Ghana’s maintenance crisis
8 minutes -
Number of debit cards issued by banks decreased by 11.8% to 5.7m in 2025
29 minutes -
Total mobile money transaction values grew by 50.8% to GH¢4.54trn in 2025
32 minutes -
Private aggregators, not state, will bear local refining costs – GoldBod
32 minutes -
Ablakwa urges African leaders to adopt new leadership paradigm to create opportunities for youth
39 minutes -
Photos: Mahama holds talks with Serbian President in Belgrade
48 minutes -
Local gold refining good for economy but costs must be controlled – Economist
49 minutes -
Keir Starmer announces he is standing down as MP
49 minutes -
One still missing after Grand Canyon floods kill two and prompts rescue efforts
50 minutes -
Mahama Ayariga calls for major overhaul of Ghana’s waste management system
54 minutes -
GoldBod programme contributed just 1.3% to reserves increase – Amin Adam
54 minutes -
Drive to Inspire–Africa equips UESD students with skills for future careers
56 minutes -
Diana Hamilton reveals she experiences stage fright before performances
1 hour -
Number of ATMs declined by 0.5% to 2,272 in 2024 – BoG
1 hour