Replacement for whats app

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:37 pm

DD no longer wants to use whats app to communicate- she feels it is too distracting, Problem is some siblings are in Israel and we can't sms them- the only way to send a quick message is through whats app that I know of... is there something else out there? Or a way to turn off the other junk (that I really have no idea what that is) on whats app.

essie14

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:41 pm

Can she get a Google voice number, delete her whatsapp account on her main number and then create a whatsapp account on the Google voice number and only give the number to her siblings?

amother

Currant

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:44 pm

Sibs in Israel can get a Google voice number and then can text US numbers from the Google voice app or website. They can also make and recieve US calls over wifi/data on that number

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:45 pm

essie14 wrote:

Can she get a Google voice number, delete her whatsapp account on her main number and then create a whatsapp account on the Google voice number and only give the number to her siblings?

Will that allow for any of the other stuff that is on whats app come through? I have no idea what she was talking about that there is other stuff that is distracting her...

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:46 pm

amother OP wrote:

Will that allow for any of the other stuff that is on whats app come through? I have no idea what she was talking about that there is other stuff that is distracting her...

What is google voice?

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:46 pm

amother Currant wrote:

Sibs in Israel can get a Google voice number and then can text US numbers from the Google voice app or website. They can also make and recieve US calls over wifi/data on that number

Can there be a group whats app on this?

amother

Honeysuckle

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:54 pm

Why can't she delete whatsapp and use the phone/email for being in touch with her sibs in Israel?
Are you not going to let her?

amother

Eggshell

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:56 pm

You can use Signal. Its basic bare bones original style of whatsapp. Works great. Been using it exclusively for in family.

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 1:57 pm

I gooled it and it seems whats app can't no longer be done on goole voice- Is anyone currently doing that.

amother

Currant

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:05 pm

amother OP wrote:

Can there be a group whats app on this?

Google voice allows someone to get a virtual phone number. Virtual number = a number not attached to a carrier phone plan, meaning it has no service by itself. It works like regular calling and texting, just over wifi/data.

You can make a group text similar to how you can do so on SMS. It is very different from a whatsapp group chat, which has a lot more features and is more streamlined for groups. Just like regular SMS, it's not really built for groups. But for regular calls/texts its a great option

abound

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:08 pm

my sister in law told me that she got her phone filtered that she cannot see anyones status, and that will go for channels too. Maybe tell her to take it into a filtering place and see if they can do that.

Iymnok

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:09 pm

amother Eggshell wrote:

You can use Signal. Its basic bare bones original style of whatsapp. Works great. Been using it exclusively for in family.

This.
DH thinks it’s the answer to WhatsApp channels. I don’t want any channels.

elaela

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:30 pm

amother Eggshell wrote:

You can use Signal. Its basic bare bones original style of whatsapp. Works great. Been using it exclusively for in family.

Thus exactly

AlwaysGrateful

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:40 pm

amother Honeysuckle wrote:

Why can't she delete whatsapp and use the phone/email for being in touch with her sibs in Israel?

This. People kept in touch long before whatsapp and texting. We don't need to be at people's beck and call at every moment. They can call, or even email.

Please speak with your dd and ask her what her true issue is with Whatsapp, and try your hardest not to be judgemental. If it is that she wants to live in the moment and not constantly be distracted from what she's doing, or feel the need to scroll when she should be living regular life, then the options above wouldn't help her much.

amother

Orchid

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 2:59 pm

abound wrote:

What filter does this?

noidea

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 3:00 pm

abound wrote:

What kind of filter ? Which company did she use ? Thanks

amother

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 4:03 pm

amother Honeysuckle wrote:

Why can't she delete whatsapp and use the phone/email for being in touch with her sibs in Israel?
Are you not going to let her?

Making regular phone calls to Israel and from Israel is not in our phone plans.

amother

Currant

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 4:10 pm

amother OP wrote:

Making regular phone calls to Israel and from Israel is not in our phone plans.

That's what the Google voice is solution for.
There used to be something called mispar chafshi that gave people a free virtual Israeli number so Israelis could call them without extra charge, but its not around anymore. Best bet is for those in Israel to get a US Google voice number, and then you can call them as if it's a local call. If they don't have smartphones there is no free way to get a virtual US number, but many pay for it. But I get the feeling that is not your situation since the current way they keep in touch is whatsapp.

amother

Lavender

Wed, Sep 20 2023, 4:12 pm

I also heard Google voice numbers don’t work anymore. There are apps that can give a second number for WhatsApp for a small fee.