Communications of the ACM
Millions Flock to Telegram, Signal as Fears Grow Over Big Tech
Over the past week, tens of millions of people have downloaded Signal and Telegram, making them the two hottest apps in the world.
Credit: Giulia Marchi/The New York Times
Neeraj Agrawal, a spokesman for a cryptocurrency think tank, has typically used the encrypted messaging app Signal to chat with privacy-minded colleagues and peers. So he was surprised on Monday when the app alerted him to two new users: Mom and Dad.
"Signal still had a subversive shine to it," said Mr. Agrawal, 32. "Now my parents are on it."
On Telegram, another encrypted messaging app, Gavin McInnes, founder of the far-right Proud Boys group, had just announced his return. "Man, I haven't posted here in a while," he wrote on Sunday. "I'll be posting regularly."
And on Twitter, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, also weighed in last week with a two-word endorsement: "Use Signal."
From The New York Times
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