Five days to go, for the official deadline imposed by WhatsApp. Previously, WhatsApp introduced a new privacy policy and set a deadline to accept it by Feb 8. Some users accepted it, whereas some resisted it.
Amid the situation, Elon Musk’s tweet made many people switch to Signal Messenger from WhatsApp. Although Singal messenger enjoyed a massive surge in user signups back then, WhatApp didn’t really see many users leaving WhatsApp. Reason? It’s big, many of our contacts use WhatsApp. For instance, even if we switch to Signal, we can’t make all of our contacts do the same switch. That’s the glitch.
However, due to many misconceptions, WhatsApp had seen a lack of understanding of privacy policy in its users. So the messenger giant decided to change the deadline to May 15, which is not so far now. So now the question is if you didn’t accept the privacy policy yet and not willing to accept it at all, what will happen to your WhatApp account?
Here’s the answer
Firstly, according to the WhatsApp FAQ page,
No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update.
Okay, if no account deletion, what else would happen to your account? The firm said they’ve already notified you and given time for you to review the new WhatsApp privacy policy and accept it. After May 15, you’ll get the notification to review and accept in the same way. After few weeks, WhatsApp will make that notification persistent.
Once you receive the persistent reminder, you’ll encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the new privacy policy update.
What is limited functionality?
WhatsApp promises that it won’t delete your account, but it will give a limited functionality for a while.
Limited functionality means you can’t access chats by opening the app. But, you can receive message notifications, and you can access the chat by clicking on that notification. That means you can’t message or chat with someone until they message you.
You can receive phone and video calls and accept them. Or you can call them back from the missed call notification. But you can’t call anyone by yourself. It’s Bizzare.
After that?
After few weeks of limited functionality, if you still didn’t accept their new privacy updates, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications, and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone.
This leads to your inactivity. WhatsApp usually obliterates the account if that account is inactive for 120 days. So indirectly, WhatsApp will delete your account if you don’t accept the new privacy updates, but it gives you a lot of time.
If you want to cut and run, my suggestion is to better export all of your chats and switch to your favorite messenger. Or if you wish to use WhatApp, unfortunately, WhatApp didn’t give you any option but to accept the new policy update.
So that’s been it. Thank you for reading, and do share the article if you get a bit piece of information. Also, keep an eye on this page for more relevant updates. Stay safe, and we hope to see you around.