- Signal app experienced downtime for several users.
- Annoyed users took to Twitter and Facebook to complain about the outage.
- Signal rose to fame after Elon Musk criticized WhatsApp.
For many users worldwide, the signal app that gained popularity in no time since the latest privacy policy of WhatsApp was implemented is down. It is just getting started, but 2021 feels like it will be a crucial year for social applications. WhatsApp, the world’s most popular app, has just revealed its privacy policy enhancements. It will soon extend Facebook’s ability to use the data of users. Unsurprisingly, for Telegram, the rival chat app, that’s great news.
Downdetector confirms the outage on the Signal messenger app. The site indicated that the downtime was due to a server error. Although, during login, some users might face problems as well. Downdetector received over 2,000 consumer reports about the Signal app problems.
Signal’s Response
The messaging app has tweeted to confirm that they are facing technical difficulties. The tweet assures that they are working on solving the issue. The company wrote in a tweet, “Signal is experiencing technical difficulties. We are working hard to restore service as quickly as possible.” Signal has not explained yet what could have led to today’s issue.
Now, several individuals speculate that this “technical difficulty” may be the product of the enormous number of users obtained almost instantly by Signal. Signal and Telegram have seen an unprecedented number of downloads since January 6, with many WhatsApp users searching for more private messaging app options.
Signal gathers no data from its users compared to the other two, Telegram and WhatsApp, and has also promised that it would never share user data or screen in-app advertisements.
The upsurge of users on the Signal app
Signal had begun experiencing problems with new registrations. Elon Musk tweeted to endorse Signal over WhatsApp. WhatsApp received harsh criticism when it shared the new privacy policy.
A recent data point from Sensor Tower reported that in almost a week, 17.8 million users downloaded the Signal app. On Thursday, the messaging app revealed that it had surpassed 50 million Android platform downloads. Thanks to Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, and more influential individuals around the world, Signal has already got plenty of promotion. Recently, Brian Acton, co-founder of the Signal Foundation, told Reuters that it was trying to recruit new individuals to ramp up the app’s growth. Right now, a lot of features have been missing by the Signal app and Acton has confirmed that they are enhancing video and group chat characteristics.
