Reader-submitted: When people think about whether or not to get a smartphone, the conversation always seems to revolve around the dangers of the internet and shmiras ha’ayin.
While I do not dispute that this is a huge challenge to owning a smart phone, it seems a practical solution is a filter.
What I don’t think is discussed in the conversations about the dangers of a smartphone are other averas that one can commit with a smartphone.
In particular, loshan hora and bitul zman. How many of us have texted loshan hora or wasted time watching a silly video sent to us on whatsapp? Whatsapp is a popular app available on any smartphone that allows and even encourages group chats, audio chats, watching videos that have no intrinsic value other than pure stupidity.
It is also an app that allows anyone to record a video of someone else in public and then send it out to hundreds of people with the click of a button. The consequence is the ability of embarrassing someone within seconds on a scale of epic proportions. It is my firm belief that any Jew who has whatsapp on his or her phone is putting their soul in grave danger. Loshan hora and embarrassing someone in public are averas that can cause someone to lose their share in Olam Haba.
The conversation about smartphones and the danger they pose should also include encouragement for Jews to not have whatsapp on their phone. Whatsapp is not the same as regular texting. Regular texting does not allow for lengthy videos to be shared as they are too large of a file. Regular texting also does not encourage broadcast texting and group chat with strangers. It may be true that regular texting also comes with the dangers of spreading loshan hora and bitul zman; however, it is not on the same level and their is a klal in halacha that you can’t assur everything.
I think it is fair to say that whatsapp is something a G-d fearing Jew should not have on their phone.
I hope those who read this article ask themselves two important questions. What important reason do I have for having whatsapp on my phone? Does having whatsapp on my phone give Hashem nachas ruach. I thank you for considering my words.
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Thank you for addressing this topic. You are 100% right.
This is an article about Whatsapp, not smartphones.
Whatsapp is the median of communication- before Whatsapp it was email, or a link to somewhere where the video was hosted. Is Whatsapp more convenient, yes, but that’s not going to stop a video from going viral.
“I think it is fair to say that whatsapp is something a G-d fearing Jew should not have on their phone.”
Says who? You. OK, thank you for your opinion.
Whatsapp is used for dozens of other fantastic uses: shidduchim groups, job groups, tehillim groups, Torah groups, etc. etc. etc.
Is there a right way and a wrong way to use Whatsapp? Sure, but that can be said about anything and everything.
Thanks for posting this, hopefully more people will remove the whatsapp from their phones.
You are 100% correct and i will be deleting WhatsApp from my phone.
Zeir Zeir Gut Gezukt
While I don’t dispute what this writer is saying why do I get the feeling that you have used whattsapp heavily??????
For someone who seems very concerned with bittul zman, you sure spent a lot of time writing an article about your opinions on Whatsapp – consisting of your own psakim and nothing else of substance.
The truth is that there is nothing wrong – halachically or otherwise – with watching a cute video that can put a smile on your face. Perhaps if you did this more often, you wouldn’t be so uptight.
There is nothing inherently wrong or assur with having WhatsApp on your phone. It is a convenient mode of communication that helps families, workplaces, friends, and other groups of people stay in the loop and have conversations, important or not. Like any technology that offers increased convenience, it must be used appropriately, with sensitivity to halacha. But there is nothing about WhatsApp that inspires otherwise halachically-observant people to suddenly decide to say lashon hara or other bad things. If you find yourself spreading lashon hara via WhatsApp, chances are that you need to work on your shmiras halashon in real life as well.
Agree! Nothing wrong and very well said nothing wrong with a cute video to chear you up , like anything else be careful with your actions and how you treat a fellow friend
I hate to say it but people embarrass others or say Loshon hora even without wattsap
Everything in this world can be used for good or bad. We need to choose good. Yes i agree for some one on the fence it is a big problem but perhaps it is the best thing for others such as those in business.
for those that disagree so strongly, you are the one that needs to think about this.
I don’t have a smart phone or whatsapp. but, I do feel left out of my family sharing things. If it’s used in the right way, it can keep families connected. Yes, it can also be used wrongly, for sure.
Well said. Whatsapp is the Churban Hador!
I actually had WhatsApp before most people I knew…some 5 years ago..the guy in the cell phone store put it on my phone because I was traveling abroad…didn’t help cuz no one I knew had it…I know because I used to watch the list of contacts grow more and more …eventually I took it off the end of last year bec I felt that it really did waste my time even though there were lots of good to it…I wldnt judge anyone who has it as bad….as with everything in life u have to use ur judgement of where ur at to decide what’s right and what’s wrong for you to have..in areas of mutar …if I would have known that WhatsApp would such a craze I prob would not have wanted it so it made sense for me to take it off…yes the author has a tremendous point but no there is no place to judge people…
I dont understand what the problem is with some people how they want to tell others how to use their phone or basically live there life.. If people just start taking care of themselves the world can be a better place..
Here are just 2 reasons why I have whatsap and why having it is certainly providing Hashem with a Nachas Ruach (as you say).
My children and grandchildren live in Lakewood. I don’t. Whatsap is the GREATEST thing that has happened for us. Daily pictures and videos of my einiklach keeps our family so much closer together with such ease and simplicity. Hashem is having Nachas.
My elderly mother in law is not well and our family provides round the clock assistance. Whatsap os the GREATEST help for us to communicate in a group chat to be sure all is taken care of and we are all on the same page. Hashem is having Nachas.
Every single thing in this world comes from above and it is always our responsibility to make use of it for the good. Clearly for you, and to you, Whatsap is not a good thing and it is wonderful that you care enough to share your concerns that others be more careful. But it has to stop there. Once you pontificate you are a Daas Yochid and unless you are the Moshe Rabeinu of our Dor then it is not yours, nor anyones place, to impose your will.
As a bunch of the previous comments say – don’t judge. Don’t tell people what to do and of course everyone must be smart when making their decisions.
I recently removed whatsapp from my phone and your article gave me a lot of chizuk since a lot of my friends were making fun of me for finding the need to Remove it while keeping my iphone THANKS SO MUCH!!!!!!