Yes, and that's what you do if you, knowing 99.9999% of people use whatsapp, force your friends/family to install something else. So, use whatsapp, and don't be a monster.
Nobody I know uses whatsapp.
Everyone has this thing called a phone they run whatsapp on, I assume you can ask for this weird old thing called a phone number.
I will double check, but I think the setup and configuration is already complete for most people's phones, so no additional install needed.
Texts are pricey. Calls are inconvenient. Whatsapp is a de facto standard and I bet a big % of people who got a smartphone, got it because they needed it to use whatsapp, or use whatsapp exclusively.
The Facebook/WhatsApp hegemony really is dangerous in that aspect. It grew from 'just social media' into something that is starting to usurp communication that used to take place via open platforms. In the Netherlands one of the largest banks (ING) even stopped supporting communication with its customers via email, suggesting the use of Twitter or WhatsApp instead for digital communication.
It is perfectly possible not to use them (I don't), but it is not without downsides.
If ING is able to suggest Twitter/WhatsApp as communications mediums instead of email, then it means they are either incompetents, or it means that they are doing it on purpose, due to Twitter/WhatsApp conversations being superficial and the services very volatile. Maybe they don't want you to store your conversations forever in an easily searchable archive. Maybe they don't want you writing long and clear messages describing your problem.
Either way, it's time to switch banks. And it's a good thing that you told me about it, as in Romania we also have ING and was considering then for my business account.
