How to switch from WhatsApp to Telegram

Facebook puts the Zuck into Whatsapp.

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Facebook is finally taking full control of WhatsApp, with plans tomerge the information you put into the appwith its broader human tracking systems. WhatsApp will effectively become an extension of Instagram, Facebook, and Facebook Messenger, with the privacy-shy company free to merge all of your data into a single tracking profile for advertisers, and who knows what else.

The new WhatsApp policy comes into force in February, giving people a few weeks to switch to another platform if they don’t fancy contributing to Zuckerberg’s global tracking ambitions. Telegram is an open-source alternative with lots of great features, end-to-end encryption chat options, anda surprisingly good Microsoft Store app.

Set up Telegram

Set up Telegram

Convincing friends and family to shift over from tried-and-tested WhatsApp might not be as easy as simply installing the app. Still, with more of us becoming privacy-conscious in our increasingly digital world, it’s at least worth considering. Here’s how to easily switch from WhatsApp to Telegram.

Delete WhatsApp

Delete WhatsApp

If you want to fully leave the Zuckerberg life behind, you’ll need to completely erase your WhatsApp account. Thanks to privacy laws, doing so is a relatively easy process.

Facebook says that it may take up to 90 days for your information to be fully deleted from WhatsApp, and it may even still retain some of your data for “legal reasons,” presumably as part of any on-going investigations.

In any case, these steps will help decentralize your digital footprint away from Zuckerberg’s data harvesting empire.

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Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow onTwitter (X)andThreads, and listen to hisXB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!