quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
How is forwarding bullshit on WhatsApp any different to forwarding it via text message? In both cases you can send links if you know someone's phone number. |
There are a few key differences between SMS and WhatsApp messages, which explain why, in good faith, so many people install the app on their phones (otherwise it would be redundant, as I am sure you would agree). I am sure the designers had the best of intentions when they released the product, it just so happens that its unintentional flaws can be easily gamed in middle-income countries:
Until very recently, it was much easier (and cheaper) to send WhatsApp messages in bulk than it was to send the same amount of text messages, which is why WhatsApp has been so harmful to Brazilian democracy. In order to attract more clients, telecommunications companies often waive all fees related to WhatsApp use, so it's more akin to spam mail than text messages (you seldom have to pay to send out e-mails). So, although we are much poorer, WhatsApp use in Brazil and Mexico is as widespread as in the UK (roughly 51% of Brazilians, 48% of Mexicans, and 45% of Britons use it). This creates a huge social network that is cheap, convenient, and private.
Also, you can attach videos and photos direclty to WhatsApp messages (as far as I know, you can just paste a link on text messages and hope the receiver clicks through). And, quite often, you have no idea who the sender of spam mail is, and therein lies the biggest trap: you only need one person gullible enough to forward a politically charged video in a group chat to spread it more effectively. You often know who sent it to you, so you tend to let your guard down. It's already downloaded to your phone by the time you watch it anyway. That just doesn't happen with text messages or spam.
So, unlike Twitter and Facebook, which successfully banned Donald Trump, WhatsApp is more vulnerable to these malicious actors. We have been very clumsy in our attempts to defend our institutions from them, as some judges have actually attempted to block WhatsApp in the past, a hopeless attempt if there has ever been one.
Now, I'm not blaming WhatsApp for all our woes, but some minimal non-intrusive moderation would go a long way. Until then, I really feel the cons outweigh the pros in here... and it really is cons we're talking about here, in a way.
quote: | Originally posted by JEO
Exactly. The content of text messages too should be actively monitored by someone. You never know what kind of lies are spreading via those things. |
And, Jeo, I'm actually happy for Finland because your deadpan remark is probably a sign that you guys have been successfully battling misinformation. I come from a country much more similar to the US when it comes to seeing hordes of protesters fuelled by misinformation storming public buildings. We're bracing ourselves for something along these lines next week, actually, as Bolsonaro is now threatening he will either be arrested or killed if he isn't reelected... and intelligence services are now scrambling to deal with the mobilisation via WhatsApp.
I'm aware Finnish democracy must have its problems, but if this isn't one of them, I guess it comes to show how solid it is
quote: | Originally posted by Silky Johnson
Yeah a bunch of my friends and I use WhatsApp exclusively for group chats. Signal too. |
Hmm... Never used Signal, and it isn't much popular here, apprently. It seems Telegram is becoming a haven for extremists here too, but I've yet to see something dodgy on the app.
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