Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

Post by fakedang » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 5:09 PM UTC

rhacker wrote: post #537

fahadkhan wrote: post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it interesting to that people don't use WhatsApp at all. Many posts here are claiming not using WhatsApp is impossible. Grandparent's experience demonstrate that it is.

I'm 41 and I have heard of whatsapp but I have never used it. Never heard of anyone else (that I know) using it. just anecdata for you. Edit: US - sorry I was just catching up on the rest of this giant thread and it looks like SE Asia S America are the main usage places.

Post by jfk13 » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 5:13 PM UTC

TheRealSteel wrote: post #544

agd wrote: post #530

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Critical social infrastructure At least for the UK, this is not at all the case. It’s perfectly feasible to socialise and do business without going anywhere near WhatsApp.

I live in the UK and this is absolutely 100% not true, you cannot function in society here without WhatsApp. In Australia the same is true for Facebook. In every country there's something, and almost all of them outside China are owned by Facebook.

Post by Drdrdrq » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 5:15 PM UTC

jokethrowaway wrote: post #606

matthew_wilson wrote: post #572

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“One System — One Policy — Universal Service” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsbury_Commitment?wprov=sft... "the promise of mail delivery [helped] grow the nation and economy instead of serving only existing communities." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Service_Act?wprov=sfti1

I think it's a different problem - mail delivery requires a series of entities interacting with each others (think about a network of mailmen). Also, private mail exists and it's definitely useful. Digital messages are usually built on top of the internet (which would have similar problems) and every service can be used across the entire network.

Post by vladvasiliu » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 5:16 PM UTC

jokethrowaway wrote: post #497

qwertox wrote: post #468

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish the EU would force messaging systems to also support interactions with XMPP or other similar open standards. There's nothing in their way to expect such a thing, except the lobbyists.

Why would you want your government to mandate how technology works? Sounds like a recipe for disaster and the perfect way to stifle innovation

Post by pwlb » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 5:17 PM UTC

s_dev wrote: post #463

FiloSottile wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a reminder, Telegram groups are not encrypted at all, and 1:1 chats are not encrypted by default, so while WhatsApp might see your contacts, Telegram can see most of your messages.

As a reminder encrypted messages aren't easily searchable -- this is a simple trade off and not some dark pattern default. Many Telegram users are away of it's quirks and how it operates differently to other IMs. Any tool will do damage in the hands of a bad workman. A good way to infer Telegram is reliable is how many despotic tyrants and corrupt countries ban it.