Will there finally be an option to disable calls completely? If not, I ain't paying.
Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
341–350 of 533 posts
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#342It's very difficult to do business in Western Europe without Whatsapp. I have probably asked more than 60 people to switch to Signal and the social burden it introduces (i.e. asking a new acquaintance to install a new app) can have negative signalling effects (e.g. you don't adapt, create more work, why do you care so much about privacy, etc.) I personally abhore Facebook (and IG,Whatsapp) and don't want to use any o…
Telegram is fairly common in Western Europe
.. which is a worse option for different reasons than WhatsApp
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#343Earlier quoted context omitted.
You paying just signals that you're someone to push more ads to and to harvest more data on, since it means you have disposable income to spend on something as useless as instagram or facebook. Meta isn't going to stop harvesting all your information just because you pay for a subscription, they'll harvest and sell your data AND take your money.
> You paying just signals that you're someone to push more ads to and to harvest more data on No, qqtt is correct that if you're paying, you get a vote. It may not be all that much of a vote, but it's more than you'd have if you weren't paying, and Meta will pay attention to it. For a recent example of how this works, consider that with the post-October-7th wave of pro-Palestinian activism on US college campuses, a l…
Not sure I understand this. The vote is, pay or not pay. If you pay, you vote yes.
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#344Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#345Earlier quoted context omitted.
WhatsApp as the only contact point is a pretty strong signal that the user is from a developing world country. I'm not from that part of the world, so I don't use WhatsApp.
If you count -all of europe- as a developing country, sure. In europe we never had free unlimited texts. Internet was cheaper than calling/texting, especially with everyone having wifi at home and work. So a cross-platform messaging app appeared and has replaced text and calling.
> we never had free unlimited texts. Internet was cheaper than calling/texting
I always found this peculiar, you would think it would be the other way around. I wonder why that is?
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#346Earlier quoted context omitted.
Mastodon and Matrix do rely on a single easy to target server.
What are you talking about? Which server? They are federated systems with many independent servers.
And if the federated server you are on goes down. You lose everything. If the federated server you are on steals your information or censors you there is nothing you can do.
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#347Earlier quoted context omitted.
Make the feed curation algo more addictive.
...which generates usage data, which in turn feeds itself? Circular economics, how convenient.
Also the ads are not just classical ads for coca cola or a mattress sale, but people and organizations paying to boost their content in the feed, which can be all kinds of manipulation, political, but also more organic looking brand management or astroturfing. Marketing is way more nowadays than just straightforward "here is a product you may be interested in, buy it".
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#348Earlier quoted context omitted.
.. which is a worse option for different reasons than WhatsApp
It does have a nice Bot API though. For building personal stuff or just sharing between friends, the risks can be mitigated (imo).
It also has the best cross-platform chat UX since pretty much forever, and just a generally really well polished interface.
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#349[dead]
Re: Meta launches Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp subscriptions
#350Earlier quoted context omitted.
In Spain whatsapp is universal and necessary for everything personal and professional. Some hard core committed communists prefer telegram, but even they usually have to have whatsapp too. No one uses signal or even knows what it is.
I am living in spain and I never used whatsapp professionally. I've had a few messages sent by medical clinics to confirm appointment, delivery workers to drop a package or some others pros but if you don't have whatsapp they just call you anyway so it is not necessary. Most people in Spain still rely and prefer voice calls than messages anyway. I believe half the country must still be illiterate as they manage to se…
I think this is a Spanish/Portuguese language thing... I am in some clubs with many Spanish speakers and they love to send voice memos! I am in Europe though so maybe the Brazilians I know have adapted to their European counterparts.