Poll: Switching from WhatsApp

Post by boraoztunc » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 1:40 PM UTC

dustinmoris wrote: post #157

gyosko wrote: post #88

The problem is not finding a nice alternative. The problem is that everybody's contacts are on Whatsapp. How do you make THEM switch?

You uninstall WhatsApp and tell your closest family and friends that they can only reach you on Signal. Because you are so important to them, they will install Signal as a backup/secondary app. Other people will do the same, and it will snowball into everyone having Signal installed and at some point people will realise that the network effect is gone.

Post by fsflover » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 1:40 PM UTC

nindalf wrote: post #178

apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Regardless of your opinion of this comment, it's still worthwhile to have the option of "staying with WhatsApp" in the poll.

Post by hoka-one-one » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 1:41 PM UTC

apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

Post by toper-centage » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 1:41 PM UTC

timvdalen wrote: post #185

emsy wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s not a good comparison. There are many alternatives to WhatsApp and it’s not a „critical“ infrastructure. In contrast, you sometimes can’t choose your ISP and internet is much more critical.

It can be in area's (such as in The Netherlands) where literally _everyone_ is on WhatsApp and it is the default form of personal online communication. Not using WhatsApp means not being able to communicate with a lot of people.

Post by dan-robertson » Thu, Jan 07, 2021, 1:42 PM UTC

MOUNOPANO wrote: post #189

apexalpha wrote: post #155

Where is the "Don't switch" option? Because as much as I hate that Facebook bought them, they're part of what I would call "critical social infrastructure." Asking to leave WhatsApp is like cancelling your contract with your ISP and going offline just because you don't like the company.

How is it possible for this answer to be first... Really HN? WhatsApp is critical infrastructure?? Excluding company ownership, what is the crucial difference between all IM listed? There's LITTLE DIFFERENCE, they all serve the same purpose, feature parity is pretty much there. When you add company ownership to the mix, WhatsApp is owned by fucking Facebook. Let that sear in your mind.