Never had Instagram. Never had WhatsApp. Had an old Facebook account opened under a fake name, using a throwaway email (haven't opened it in six months, maybe more).
That company is cancer.
That company is cancer.
Your position seems to be that you feel bullied over your stance and you're willing to capitulate to it for the mild contrivances it offers you.
It's always been easy for me to come up with a circumstance under which something the people involved cared about might become so politically or socially condemned that being associated with it could have major repercussions.
Maybe give that a shot next time you want a group to switch to something private.
I've found that works with friends, yes.
But it's too much to ask in cases like a whatsapp group for parents of a school class, or for participants in an upcoming event. Things where I don't feel like I'm entering with any social credit and don't want to be a huge noodge straight off the bat.
My Jiu Jitsu gym heavily uses Facebook but they're smart enough to recognize that not everyone (even the people that have an account) checks it regularly so they notify the members through other means. Lately they've been telling people to be on the lookout for a text message they're planning on sending so, it sounds like they're recognizing that Facebook use is waning in a meaningful way.
I haven't had a Facebook account in 12 years and haven't missed it one bit. I don't expect everyone else to do any extra work to accommodate my preferences. I didn't ask my gym to text me. The just started doing it.
Time and again for the last 12 years I've found that if there was something someone needed me to know, they found a way to contact me and, if I needed to get in touch with them I found a way. Just like we did for many, many years before Facebook started.
Nowhere near as many people are using Facebook and therefore people are more accommodating and understanding of not using it.
This.
I do not use facebook anymore. Yes I do have an account but I cannot remember last time I logged in. Likely over 6 months ago. Whenever I do login it is to check my jujitsu gym. Thats it! Logged in and out with.. what.. 5 mins?
I had little friends list on my fb. It was ex co-workers, uni/college/school friends. I know people who would have hundreds and hundreds of "friends" on theirs, making out how difficult it would be to leave it. Truth is half of them they have never met or spoke in person.
There are other means to connect with my friends. I am just tired of the current world, believing they need these social media accounts which, under the disguise of being free, have flaws in other ways as well as their mental health!
It is a sad world to constantly see people on their phones, likely witnessing a teenager walking to school or work with neck injuries in 15 years time.
Some people just cannot put their phone down. They are back on forums, groups, etc, within 10 minutes. Of course this is not a social media problem - but it most certainly is part of the cause.
Rant Over.
It's not easy to convince ignorant friends. The best way I found is to not try to change them, but do keep your own principles. They'll respect that, and might even become interested in why you have your principles. Then if they ask you can explain them.
I'd assume not but that'd be a fun way to get off the proverbial list if possible
This is a problem for us all and we need regulation to solve it. And we probably need campaign finance reform to get people in power willing to regulate it.
Generate so much false data about yourself that you both overwhelm and devalue this mechanism entirely.
In addition, to prevent shadow profiles, I've blocked them on NextDNS, setup NetGuard[0] and Firefox with uBlock Origin on Android.
I've made peace with the fact that at least WhatsApp has end-to-end encryption. I hope to god they don't enshittify it.