Social media usage has grown as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, as more users go online to stay connected with family, friends and colleagues. WhatsApp is the social media app that has experienced the greatest gains due to COVID-19. The app has a large number of users as it is easy to use compared to other social media apps.
In a recent news published in MSN.com has shocked many users. According to the report, WhatsApp prides itself on its approach to privacy. But the user data that the Facebook-owned WhatsApp shares publicly is allowing several outside apps to track aspects of WhatsApp users' online activity — including whom they're likely talking to, when they're sleeping, and when they're using their devices.
As per the report of Business Insider, these apps and services use the feature of "online" signaling within WhatsApp that enable their users to monitor the digital habits of anyone using WhatsApp without their knowledge or consent.
These intrusive apps shows that apps and services that strongly protect users' privacy in some ways — like WhatsApp that is committed to encrypting messages, can still expose data that can be used to track their users.