[throwthrowcatch]

Signal will be become popular -- if it does -- just like how every other network based app became popular eg. MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat. Examples from work... Zoom, Slack etc. First it's used among a small group of people, has a "cool"ness factor and a USP. Then slowly spreads as other people want to be seen as ahead of the curve and want to be part of an exclusive group. So the Hacker News crowd using it is actually a good sign.

What we need additionally in this case more than the "WhatsApp but better" argument is continually making people aware of the incumbent's behavior, since WhatsApp is well entrenched, to cast doubts in people's minds.

SMS lost because it was costly and lacked features. What will make WhatsApp lose?

[Method-X]

> What will make WhatsApp lose?

It would have to be something fundamental. Any new feature that gains significant popularity can easily be added to WhatsApp (e.g. stories); in addition to having network effects working in their favour.

[richardw]

For me, it’s the dilution of networks. WhatsApp has a purpose and it’s different from FB. Now I have my bike mechanic friending me on FB because I’m a contact on WA. I don’t want some smoosh of all my connections.

[selestify]

The only feature I don’t see WhatsApp adopting is Signal’s strong privacy focus. I guess we’ll see how important privacy alone is as a feature.

[foolmeonce]

I think the key here is that the anti-backdoor argument is based on fundamental problems.

Whatsapp will be inclined to bow to one and then many governments and create backdoors and also wants access to content as part of its business model. They will eventually lose a lot of data that was supposed to be e2e encrypted, people will be upset, and FB's focus will be explaining how its not responsible for the damages.