Slowly, by only replying in that group and sending my messages there, I was able to move more of them over and finally the other group died which lead to the last individuals to come over to Signal.
It takes time, but can be done.
Is it enough to stop using WhatsApp within one year?
Or should we be striving to migrate and delete our accounts before the policy change takes effect, to also prevent our historical WhatsApp data to be linked to our FB account?
I don't have a clear answer myself. Anyone more informed, please elaborate.
The UI looks like iMessage. So it doesn't seem it should be any issue there.
To me signal is the best UI, and WhatsApp looks like a child designed it. Especially with the horrid default colors and backgrounds.
But I don't really see a difference in UIs in most chat programs. There are only two types of UIs. Point-to-point (signal, WhatsApp, imessage, etc) and room based (irc, matrix, slack).
Their all so similar, I don't understand what is better or worse in Signal compared to WhatsApp.
On the other hand, both of these things are essentially limitations imposed by SMS, at least when one end of the conversation is not an iPhone. Both can be fixed, at a small cost in complexity, and if they did that, I think it would hit a good balance between features, usability, and architectural complexity.
UI in general feels pretty much the same, but things like actual desktop apps with decent UX make a massive difference.
You can't delete Signal contacts, like, ever. My signal address book and synchronized chats are flooded with plain numbers, or self-titled user names (which also invites for identity fraud...), because I deleted those contacts in my phone (which ofc I need to do, because it's used for privacy settings in other apps...). That's a problem for many years now, the github issues get closed by maintenance bots.
I am a somewhat tech-savvy person, but even for me the user experience leaves me annoyed and uncertain about some basic functionality you expect from messaging apps these days. I stopped recommending it to people some time ago. Don't want to blow my chances to migrate people to something fundamentally better.
Comically, every platform has different issues with "deleted" meta-info popping up again. Like "deleted" groups, "deleted" contacts, "deleted" chats... meta links I can't get rid off whatever I do. The worst is legacy groups I left, "deleted", can't even use or join anymore, but also can't get rid of. They reappear every time I refresh the iPad app. Mind you, the group members are still visible, so I am really happy whistle-blowing, terrorism or crime isn't my profession.
This made me really distrusting of Signal, when years old meta data popped up again. Like, have they lost some pointers or something? Can I even expect the data to be gone, when I delete my account for good? Doesn't feel like privacy at all...
[1] https://medium.com/incerto/the-most-intolerant-wins-the-dict...
Talebs arguments are more fitting in instances in which the cost of providing a different solution for a minority is too high and the cost (for some central provider) of just complying with minority demands for everyone is lower. Doesn't apply here at all.
I got quite a few people to put it on their phone using that line.
I never used WhatsApp. Friends and even businesses I dealt with always asked me if I had it, and why I didn't, and I was apologetic, but firm. Of course I was left out of oh-so-many groups and discussions in the past years, but I was never going to install or use that, I don't trust Facebook regarding privacy the tiniest bit and I think they always lied regarding which data they use and how.
Now I suddenly have so many people appearing on Signal, my wife was asked by their friends: "Hey, you weren't on WhatsApp, but I am now on Signal, so would you consider talking there?".
I admit, I did not push anyone anywhere, not even my wife. I'm past being an "influencer" and having to deal with "... but you told me to use this?!" - particularly my wife.
But just referring to the "network effect" and continue doing something you are uncomfortable with is being complicit IMO. You can control what you do, and do the right thing.
Although “tracking” for ads is far less invasive than even that, the only particularly annoying thing is when it bugs out and shows you ads for stuff you just purchased and no longer need, it would be nice if they could track a little better and know once you’ve bought something.
Which, unfortunately, does not matter. You don't win arguments with proof, you win with persuasion.
Proofs are but one tool that can be used to persuade the other party, but if the proofs are not clear and quick, usually the other side will feel they are right - "they have won the argument"
On the other hand, a quote like this may well be persuasive to many, and they will feel you are right - "you have won".
This is not "the ends justify the means" - this is understanding how people argue.
There are those that argue on a purely intellectual level; Richard Feynman describes such a conversation with Einstein Oppenheimer and Bohr. But that was noteworthy enough for him to recall it twenty years later!
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Whoosh
for real? :D
This is completely missing the point of why one should fight surveillance. Surveillance harms journalism and activism, making the government too powerful and not accountable. If only activists and journalists will try to have the privacy, it will be much easier to target them. Everyone should have privacy to protect them. It’s sort of like freedom of speech is necessary not just for journalists, but for everyone, even if you have nothing to say.
Copied comment from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25824334
For bigger groups (eg. the parents groups of my kids school) nobody cares if one or two people don't want to move. Especially since there most likely were a few people who already opposed WhatsApp in the first place.
So before there were a few people who weren't part of the group because of WhatsApp, and now there might be a few different people who aren't part of the group because of Signal.
You just need to convince a majority that your choice is better, and the terms of service change along with the constant bad press of Facebook was enough to tip the scales for many many groups.
(I'm not sure because I was one of the obnoxious parents who refused to install WhatsApp in the first place. I was a bit surprised when the group suddenly decided to move to Signal)
Remaining on the service makes it more attractive and useful to the other users.
move anyway, that people will eventually move because of the network effect
Data should be free to use whichever platform. The platforms should compete on features.
Imagine not being able to call your mate or family because they are on another telecom provider?
Someone fix this bullsh!t.