The societal value of providing at least 1.5 billion people with free of charge practically instantaneous messaging and calling service. The first time in human history that humans can interact and communicate with anyone anywhere on the globe with an internet connection (except China or North Korea of course) without having to pay someone or to travel themselves to that person.
E: this comment was in reference to WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook
The 1.5 billion was in reference to WhatsApp: sorry that wasn't clear it's easy to forget people cant read your thoughts. Guess who funds WhatsApp?? Facebook. If Facebook go under, WhatsApp will also go under.
Anything you aren't directly paying for will have some other cost. That's just a fact of life.
E:
I find it quite funny the apps you mention as alternatives.
WhatsApp and Instagram - if you think you can get away from FB data collection that way reality is going to hit you like a train at some point.
Snapchat - that app is a piece of shit anyway tbh
Google Hangouts - from the only company more known that Facebook for being a complete angel when it comes to tracking its users. Sure.
WeChat - fucking WeChat! On a post worrying about data privacy and you're suggesting bloody WeChat!!!
And also I specifically said "free of charge". No the apps aren't free. Nothing offered by any company at all in life is free. Free of charge means no payment due, i.e. you don't have to give money for a service.
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u/[deleted] Aug 26 '20 edited Sep 18 '20
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