whatsappwrong
News Opinion Sport Culture Lifestyle Show More Illustration: Jo Raynsford/Guardian Design The long read What's wrong with WhatsApp As social media has become more inhospitable, the appeal of private online groups has grown. But they hold their own dangers – to those both inside and out. By William Davies by William Davies Thu 2 Jul 2020 06.00 BST I n the spring, as the virus swept across the world and billions of people were compelled to stay at home, the popularity of one social media app rose more sharply than any other. By late March, usage of WhatsApp around the world had grown by 40%. In Spain, where the lockdown was particularly strict, it rose by 76%. In those early months, WhatsApp – which hovers neatly between the space of email, Facebook and SMS, allowing text messages, links and photos to be shared between groups – was a prime conduit through which waves of news, memes and mass anxiety travelled. What's wrong with WhatsApp – podcast Read more At first...