Caught in the Network: The Impact of WhatsApp's 2021 Privacy Policy Update on Users' Messaging App Ecosystems

Carla F. Griggio, Midas Nouwens, Clemens Nylandsted Klokmose

Publikation: Bidrag til bog/antologi/rapport/konference proceedingKonferenceartikel i proceedingForskningpeer review

14 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

In January 2021, WhatsApp announced an update to their privacy policy, sparking an outcry that saw millions of users install other messaging apps such as Telegram and Signal. This presented a rare opportunity to study users' experiences when trying to leave the world's most popular communication app. We conducted surveys in February and May with 1525 WhatsApp users from Mexico, Spain, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Over a quarter wanted to switch at least part of their communication to other apps, but 74% of them failed to do so. By May, 27% had increased their use of other apps, and only 16% used WhatsApp less. Beyond network effects, users struggled with making informed choices of alternative apps and with differences in their design and functionality. We suggest messaging interoperability as an approach to alleviate switching costs and discuss implications for HCI research and competition regulation of digital services.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TitelCHI 2022 - Proceedings of the 2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
ForlagAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Publikationsdato29 apr. 2022
Artikelnummer104
ISBN (Elektronisk)9781450391573
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 29 apr. 2022
Udgivet eksterntJa
Begivenhed2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2022 - Virtual, Online, USA
Varighed: 30 apr. 20225 maj 2022

Konference

Konference2022 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, CHI 2022
Land/OmrådeUSA
ByVirtual, Online
Periode30/04/202205/05/2022
SponsorACM SIGCHI
NavnConference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Proceedings

Bibliografisk note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 ACM.

Fingeraftryk

Dyk ned i forskningsemnerne om 'Caught in the Network: The Impact of WhatsApp's 2021 Privacy Policy Update on Users' Messaging App Ecosystems'. Sammen danner de et unikt fingeraftryk.

Citationsformater