When you ask them to do this, the next question will be "why?" and I don't know another way to answer that.

I like to take advantage of the increase in privacy awareness and how the current administration is behaving (United States). People have definetly seen and understand more about the abuse big tech does to us. But I still keep it in laymen terms.

Stuff like:

"It's just WhatsApp but actually private" I guess has been what I've started saying initially.

I find using platforms owned by people who support the current administration rather immoral. So I think I play into that a bit.

Best to not be nervous at all and act like it's a normal thing. That's how people come around. While most people might use WhatsApp or Instagram, you can convince them that it's something regular. I mean like, what's another app on their phone?

Something I do admit is with some people I had to loop back around after some time. But they came to join me on Jabber eventually.

A couple of my friends who are mostly non-techie users have been collaborating with me on how to promote this secure nerd technical stuff.

So it sounds like you probably never speak to those people again.

Even though my city is big, I do run into the same people again in the same industry. I'm not out there a lot partying or hanging with strangers, so I guess I just foster relationships and branch off from there with friends of friends.

I did succumb once and made a LinkedIn for certain business contacts. But most business people are older and take my email pretty easily.

Like I'm not out there getting random people to join this strange nerd platform. But I make it easier for them to accept it.

I went through almost all the "private and secure communication" apps and services, trying to figure out the best one. I know SimpleX is getting popular, but for me XMPP/Jabber has ticked the boxes. And I try to make it easier to use and understand.

Still figuring out more efficient ways to promote privacy rights and good practices, but I'm getting there fairly smoothly.

EDIT: And again, I'm not able to get everyone. But people come around.