Telegram Reaches 500 Million User Milestone
Image sourced from The Independent Telegram has officially surpassed 500 million users – this comes after more than 25 million people downloaded the platform in the last 72 hours. “Twenty-five million users have joined Telegram in the last 72 hours. 38% of them are from Asia, 27% from Europe, 21% from Latin America, and 8% from MENA,” says Telegram Founder, Pavel Durov. The rise in demand is attributed to Facebook’s recent move to update WhatsApp’s terms of service and privacy policy – leaving many WhatsApp users concerned and searching for a more secure messaging platform, like Telegram. “People no longer want to exchange their privacy for free services. They no longer want to be held hostage by tech monopolies that seem to think they can get away with anything as long as their apps have ...
Rights group urges lifting Ugandan social media ban
Amnesty International is calling for Ugandan officials to lift bans on social media imposed ahead of Thursday’s election. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced on Tuesday that the government had shut down social media. On Jan. 9, Facebook deleted dozens of pro-Ugandan government accounts, saying they were “fake.” Museveni characterized Facebook’s action as arrogant. “It is alarming that the Ugandan authorities have suspended social media networks including Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp and restricted people’s right to freedom of expression and access to information,” said Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes, in a press release. Amnesty International said the move was intended to silence journalists, election o...
5 Ways to Protect Private User Data on Messaging Apps
Facebook recently asked WhatsApp users to accept its updated terms of service and privacy policy – or else lose access to the app. “As part of the Facebook family of companies, WhatsApp receives information from, and shares information with, this family of companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings,” reads WhatsApp’s updated privacy policy. “This includes helping improve infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how our Services or theirs are used, securing systems, and fighting spam, abuse, or infringement activities.” This move has left many WhatsApp users concerned and searching for a more secure mes...
Coronavirus: Nigeria now at tipping point – PTF
The Federal Government, yesterday, took stock of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic vis-a-vis the attitude of Nigerians to embracing safety precautions, and concluded that the country was now at a tipping point. This came as government announced its decision to establish oxygen plants in all states of the federation as part of measures to resolve the “oxygen crisis” that had engulfed some of the isolation and treatment centres in the country. Meanwhile, Edo State has recorded 28 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the state to 270, as the state government cautions residents to abide by the precautionary health and safety guidelines. Vanguard, meanwhile, gathered that former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe and th...
Diego Simeone welcomes back Kieran Trippier after FA explains betting ban
Kieran Trippier’s 10-week ban for betting offences is on hold as FIFA considers an appeal, although the FA has explained its decision. Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone welcomed Kieran Trippier back to training after his 10-week suspension for betting offences was put on hold by FIFA. The 30-year-old defender was issued with the ban and a fine of £70,000 on December 23 after the Football Association (FA) found him guilty of four of seven alleged breaches of rule E8(1)(b). Atletico appealed against the punishment to FIFA, and world football’s governing body has cleared Trippier to play while its appeal committee considers the matter. In the written reasons explaining its independent regulatory commission’s decision, which the FA published on Tuesday, it was revealed Trippier told a friend,...
UNIOSUN student commits suicide
A 23-year-old 100 level student of Osun State University, Ikire campus Juba Orisajafor on Tuesday drank poison and died few hours he preached against suicide on his WhatsApp. It was gathered that Orisajafor on Tuesday morning around updated his WhatsApp status, condemning suicide. His post on WhatsApp reads: “Often time I ask myself, Why do people commit suicide? Perhaps because they’ve got no one to encourage, motivate or guide them or because they felt there is no solution to whatever problem they are going through. Perhaps they forgot there’s more to enjoy when there’s life (hope) is not lost”. A source told newsmen that one of the students in the hostel where Orisajafor was living saw him lying unconscious in front of his hostel around 6:30pm after taking a bottle of a sniper. “He was ...
WhatsApp is Working on “Read Later” Feature
WhatsApp is working on an “Archived Chats” replacement – called “Read Later”, reports WABetaInfo. Image sourced from WABetaInfo This new feature is expected to include improved “Archived Chats” functionality through “Vacation Mode” which will keep chats archived even when new messages are received. WhatsApp Begins Rolling Out Disappearing Message Feature WhatsApp has begun rolling out its new disappearing message feature, according to WABetaInfo. The feature is expected to allow users to send messages that disappear after a predetermined amount of time – this will also include media, like images and videos. Once activated, this feature won’t affect messages sent prior to the roll-out and users can turn disappearing messages on or off at any time in...
WhatsApp Begins Rolling Out Disappearing Message Feature
WhatsApp has begun rolling out its new disappearing message feature, according to WABetaInfo. The feature is expected to allow users to send messages that disappear after a predetermined amount of time – this will also include media, like images and videos. Once activated, this feature won’t affect messages sent prior to the roll-out and users can turn disappearing messages on or off at any time in any individual chat. In a group chat, however, only group admins can turn disappearing messages on or off. Here’s a closer look at WhatsApp’s Disappearing Message Feature: If a user doesn’t open WhatsApp in the seven day period, the message will disappear. However, the preview of the message might still be displayed in notifications until WhatsApp is opened. When you repl...
WhatsApp Unveils New Media Storage Management Tool
WhatsApp has unveiled its new storage management tool which is expected to make locating and deleting media/files much simpler for users. According to The Verge, offers thumbnails of content to be deleted, and groups this data in categories including “Forwarded many times” and “Larger than 5 MB”. [embedded content] The Facebook-owned messaging platform says that users around the globe can expect to see the feature in action within the next week. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_5d5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_5d5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } To find this tool, select Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage. WhatsApp Introduces New In-App Features WhatsApp has revealed a number of new in-app features covering Shopping, Payments, and Customer Service. Accor...
New WhatsApp Update for iOS and Android
Image sourced from YoMZanzi WhatsApp has unveiled new beta updates for iOS and Android, according to WABetaInfo. These new features include advanced wallpaper configuration tools that allow users to customise their in-app wallpaper. MyBroadband reports that there are now “32 new bright wallpapers, 30 new dark wallpapers, and a number of solid colour options to choose from”. WhatsApp Unveils New In-App Features WhatsApp has revealed a number of new in-app features covering Shopping, Payments, and Customer Service. According to the messaging platform, the ways in which people and businesses communicate are not working. “The global pandemic has made clear that businesses need fast and efficient ways to service their customers and make sales. WhatsApp has become a simple and convenient resourc...
WhatsApp Unveils New In-App Features
WhatsApp has unveiled a number of new in-app features covering Shopping, Payments, and Customer Service. According to the messaging platform, the ways in which people and businesses communicate are not working. “The global pandemic has made clear that businesses need fast and efficient ways to service their customers and make sales. WhatsApp has become a simple and convenient resource at this time. More than 175 million people every day message a WhatsApp Business account.” With these in mind, here’s a closer look at WhatsApp’s new features: Shopping – WhatsApp will introduce new ways for people to check out available products and make purchases right from a chat. It also plans to make it easier for businesses to integrate these features into their existing commerce and customer solut...
WhatsApp is Working on an Expiring Media Feature
Whatsapp is reportedly working on a feature that would allow users to delete an image or video from someone else’s phone once it’s been viewed. According to WABetaInfo, users will be able to use this feature by selecting the ‘View Once’ option when sending media. Once the recipient views the image or video, they will receive a notification to inform them that the media will no longer be available once they leave the chat. Image sourced from WABetaInfo The next time the recipient enters the chat, a message reading “View once photo expired” will replace the image or video. Image sourced from WABetaInfo There is no word just yet on when users can expect this feature to officially rollout. WhatsApp is Working on “Vacation Mode” Feature, Again WhatsApp is again working on its “Vacation Mode” fe...
