this post was submitted on 09 Jun 2023
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Privacy
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Exactly that. Privacy, and in extension of that wanting nothing to do with Meta. I think the key lies in making it a me-problem rather than them-problem. I never told them they need to stop using it nor gave them a lecture about privacy, just that I was no longer on it. And that they could reach me on Signal and SMS, or just call. If they wánt I can discuss privacy with them, but only if théy want to.
As I said, it was a slow process and most people felt it was unnecesary to install another app so they just used SMS. But over time, not being able to send images (MMS services are down with most providers here) or not having group chats made some install Signal after all. And the more did, the easier the rest followed. My grandpa was indeed the first. Not for any tech or privacy reason, but because as a typical grandfather, he cares more about chatting with his grandchild than how many apps he has. He's more the "it says I need another app, so just press install" type that ends up with tons of bloatware 🥴.
You cannot force people to care about privacy, and trying to will generally make them just get annoyed with you. They also all still use WhatsApp next to it as well. But, every chat that's moved over to Signal is improvement, and everyone who has both still increases the userbase which increases the appeal of Signal. Small steps are still improvements, and more than you get by arguing over it.
I'm also not sure if I'd count SMS worse than WhatsApp. Sure it's send plain text, but someone would need to intercept it before it get's read and used. Wheras with WhatApp, you know Meta will intercepts whatever they can. And their app is propietary + you have no proof about their encryption. For all you know, they may have a copy of your key, or process it locally before encrypting. Wouldn't be the first time Meta crosses the legal line far and only get's caught years later if ever. Their track-record isn't exactly a "they'd never do that" one. Not to forget all other data outside of yohr messages that the apps gathers that my FOSS SMS app doesn't. I don't want that installed on my phone.