Half-and-half here (also Germany). Almost everyone I know uses Signal & WhatsApp both. But WA is for bad connectivity and group chats, plus a few (mostly foreigners) holdouts.
I have ONE contact who uses Signal. Yes, it’s a shame but at this point I think that I could convert more people to using Linux than to switching to Signal.
I hear that a lot, it’s so weird, even my mum, dad and aunts (all around 70 years old) use Signal, and that was not my idea (I used to avoid all those fucking phone-number messengers for a few years until I caved in and realized Jabber is not making a return to mainstream …)
Same here. I wonder if there is an easy way to leave an old phone with whatsapp at home and forward the messages to my daily driver. Would prevent the zuck from reading out my contact list at minimum. I know he still has everybody else’s but still.
As a workaround, you can bridge most services to Matrix. I currently bridge Telegram, Signal and SMS to my Matrix server and only need Element on my phone and desktop.
Unfortunately Element is fairly focused on business users, would be cool if they could host bridges for individuals to make the barrier of entry easier.
Whatsapp. Everyone in India uses it. Its like the imessage situation in the US. So widespread.
Schools, college, friend groups, family groups all are on whatsapp.
Can second this for Germany, too.
I tried to degoogle and to only use FOSS apps and services, but ditching WhatsApp would throw me in a black hole.
Half-and-half here (also Germany). Almost everyone I know uses Signal & WhatsApp both. But WA is for bad connectivity and group chats, plus a few (mostly foreigners) holdouts.
I have ONE contact who uses Signal. Yes, it’s a shame but at this point I think that I could convert more people to using Linux than to switching to Signal.
I hear that a lot, it’s so weird, even my mum, dad and aunts (all around 70 years old) use Signal, and that was not my idea (I used to avoid all those fucking phone-number messengers for a few years until I caved in and realized Jabber is not making a return to mainstream …)
Same here. I wonder if there is an easy way to leave an old phone with whatsapp at home and forward the messages to my daily driver. Would prevent the zuck from reading out my contact list at minimum. I know he still has everybody else’s but still.
Matrix bridge?
You don’t have to give contact permission to the app.
Cool instance you are on.
Thanks. May I ask what is so cool about the instance that I am on? ;)
I can only speak for myself, but it’s nice to have more international presence here. Right now it’s mostly Anglos and other Europeans
Did not know we have our own instance
there’s a kerala lemmy? thats neat
telegram is used a lot in slav countries, i feel like its pretty decent
Same in the Czech Republic. My whole family communicates only through whatsapp.
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Same in France. Even (this is insane) for work coordination…
So you prefer it because everyone use it? This doesn’t sound smart
How am I supposed to message people when the only messaging app they use is whatsapp and facebook messenger (which I don’t use)?
I guess the only easy alternative is to use SMS and email since everyone use it. But it is not safe.
I am always open to alternatives like Signal, Element,etc. But no one use them. I am not going to force people to use a messaging app.
As a workaround, you can bridge most services to Matrix. I currently bridge Telegram, Signal and SMS to my Matrix server and only need Element on my phone and desktop.
Unfortunately Element is fairly focused on business users, would be cool if they could host bridges for individuals to make the barrier of entry easier.