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Stop Using These "Private" Messengers (neat.tube)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/privacy@programming.dev
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[–] 13 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

As I already mentioned, I already do not use Whatsapp. That is a massive sacrifice where I am. You may not be aware of this (I'm guessing American), but in western Europe almost everybody is now using Whatsapp for pretty much everything. Businesses are replacing the phone and email with it. The situation is even worse in Latin America.

If you meet a new social contact and you don't have Whatsapp, that's likely it, you will not be keeping in contact with that person. Typically they have Telegram installed but hardly use it (so the app gets killed and they won't be notified of your message). As for Signal and the rest, most people haven't even heard of them. I speak from experience. It's a disaster and I worry the people who populate this forum (i.e. Americans who still use SMS) are not familiar with how dire the situation now is elsewhere in the world.

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  • [–] 5 points 7 months ago (1 child)

    As an Australian I had no idea how ubiquitous WhatsApp had become elsewhere before travelling. I downloaded it for the first time on a trip to Europe because I literally couldn’t contact certain providers otherwise and the only other time I’ve ever used it was when I was in India and was faced with the same dilemma. It was a real culture shock.

    I, and everyone I’m linked in with here in Australia, only use WhatsApp to communicate with relatives overseas or don’t use it at all. We all just tend to use SMS or regular phone calls here.

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  • [–] 3 points 7 months ago

    We all just tend to use SMS or regular phone calls here.

    ???? I'm an Aussie, I haven't sent an SMS for well over a decade, aside from a Y when confirming medical appointments I guess :) , a few received SMS for 2FA or signing up to services. I only use Signal. Most seem to use Apple's bullshit though.

    My gfs work is all organised via Whatsapp though.

    That said WA and Tele and FB are ubiquitous in SE Asia, LINE App and Viber to a lesser extent.

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago

    I have a) ignored the fact you said about whatsapp because i was annoyed with the "inevitable" sentiment. sorry for that and fantastic step from you; And b) i have not used it in..i don't even know, 6-8 years? I was very hopefull more people make a switch during the last time news came up. But i am also in europe and well aware how stupid the situation is, unfortunately.

    I am also aware how stupid many businesses are, but i am closer to the other end of the spectrum and just stubborn so i simply don't partake. And i will be complaining, but obviously without much reach in my echo chamber of people who switched anyway.

    But what i mean is really that there can be change, slowly and gradually but it works. I my of my close family and most of my few friends to Signal and slowly i see this spreading to aquaintances. Like my bouldering group switched lately, which was a very nice surprise to me.

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