117

Signal – an ethical replacement for WhatsApp (greenstarsproject.org)

submitted 2 weeks ago by Pro@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world

132 comments fedilink hide all child comments

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[-] Humanius@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

After Trump was elected and inaugurated, Signal has finally been gaining some steam here in the Netherlands.

It's still an American company, so it's not ideal. But it's still significantly better better than letting a tech giant like Facebook have control over the most commonly used chat app.

WhatsApp needs to go and Signal is the most likely way in which we can achieve that. We can worry about the American elephant in the room later.

[-] viking@piefed.ca 7 points 2 weeks ago

There is threema, a Swiss messenger that gained some popularity earlier since they had end to end encryption before whatsapp.

Unfortunately the source code is not open (even though they do get annual audits with public reports), and the client costs 3 EUR or something (once).

[-] Humanius@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, but Threema has basically no momentum behind it at all at this point.
I'm putting my social capital behind the option that currently stands the most chance of beating out Whatsapp

load more comments (4 replies)

[-] philpo@feddit.org 5 points 2 weeks ago

And Switzerlands records in terms of privacy sadly is far worse than most people think - even with the last attack being repelled.

Matrix (preferably on a non-matrix.org instance) currently is the preferable non US and privacy friendly way.

load more comments (3 replies)

load more comments (5 replies)

load more comments (4 replies)

[-] Kevnyon@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

I wish I could do this, but trying to convince people to ditch an app they've never had problems with and where they all have their family, friends, work groups and school groups already mashed together, how do you convince them? Its not even about me convincing my friends or family, its about everyone else doing the same and when everyone has so many contacts in WhatsApp, that number starts to snowball real quick. Its just not feasible to try and explain this to someone who literally doesn't care. I mean even though I myself know what Meta is and how Zuck is complete asshole, I still can't switch off of WhatsApp because nobody I know is on Signal and I'd just be alone there. What's the point? WhatsApp is pretty much the first app anyone installs on their phone (regardless of platform), they're not gonna switch now.

[-] orgrinrt@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

Well, just an anecdote:

I simply deleted my WhatsApp and moved to signal. Just did it.

People installed the app, at least the ones that cared about staying in touch. Which was most everyone I cared about staying in touch with. A few of my friend groups also moved the group chat to signal, though all of them do have other ones with the people who didn’t care enough to move too, but I hear it isn’t that big a deal, they had multiple groups before and will have in future, doesn’t really feel like any extra hassle they say.

It’s been fine. No problems. I’ve had more trouble trying to explain to my extended family why I’m no longer posting on instagram. Those I never had in WhatsApp either back in the day, so they “stayed in touch” by watching my pictures I suppose. But I just consistently tell people they can reach me always via signal or plain old sms.

I guess the biggest thing to be scared about would be fomo for most, but I don’t really care enough, I’ve got so much going on already that it’s more of a blessing that I don’t have to be involved in every conversation or meme sharing or whatever.

It really gets so easy after simply switching. Just do it and that’s that. The people worth anything come with you, it’s just another app and another group chat or personal chat. Most already have discord and the meta messenger whatever its name is these days anyway. I know zero people with only one messenger/chat app and unsplintered groups across them. It’s not a big chore, and if it is, there’s always sms.

[-] ieGod@lemmy.zip 4 points 2 weeks ago

Yep. I know the details. I'm tech savvy enough, but I use what my contacts use, and I'm not leaving WhatsApp. Same goes for youtube. The content I consume is there. There is no suitable alternative until the content creators switch. It's not really about the technology at all.

load more comments (3 replies)

[-] hansolo@lemmy.today 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's ethical because it runs on donations and has a non-profit business model.

Meta likely spends at least $1 billion a year running WhatsApp.

Please donate to Signal if you use it.

[-] Arcane2077@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago

I like Signal. I even got all my close friends and family on it, specifically to message me because I won't use whatsapp. The PIN reminders are annoying it enough to be legitimately holding it back from mass appeal imho

[-] Typotyper@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

Turn them off

[-] bimbimboy@lemmy.eco.br 2 points 2 weeks ago

The fact that it's opt-out is already a reason to push people away from the app

load more comments (4 replies)

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Don't ask me for a phone number and I'll use it.

load more comments (10 replies)

[-] Nima@leminal.space 3 points 2 weeks ago

signal requires a phone number and won't even allow you to send sms to those that aren't on signal.

its better, but still not great.

[-] TeddE@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

It used to function as a fallback SMS/MMS messenger (like how iMessage does) but when Google started moving to convert Android from SMS/MMS to RCS Signal made the hard decision to cut the fallback functionality rather than follow Google's new framework.

I personally hope once the dust settles Signal designs a RCS engine and restores the fallback functionality.

[-] oppy1984@lemm.ee 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah killing the sms function was basically a deal breaker for me, no matter how much I tried I could only get three people to use Signal, the rest were all sms. When the sms feature was removed 2 of the 3 dropped Signal completely, so now the only person I know who still uses it is my mom and even she still flips back and forth between Signal and Google messages when texting me.

I still have Signal on my phone and suggest it people when they ask how to contact me, but everyone just wants to text my phone number.

load more comments (5 replies)

[-] peteyestee@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

I don't believe in signal.

[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

I use it mostly for family chats, I got the extended family to use it rather than Facebook Messenger

What makes you not trust signal as against WhatsApp?

load more comments (3 replies)

[-] mintiefresh@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 weeks ago

Wish more of my contact list would switch over to Signal. It's nearly the same. I don't see why it's so hard for some people to just start using Signal instead of WhatsApp.

Oh well.

[-] Kekzkrieger@feddit.org 8 points 2 weeks ago

Because people are beyond stupid. "i dont want to download another app" - while having an app for almost every other store and bullshit game and whatever

[-] victorz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I think what they really mean is "I don't want another account".

load more comments (1 replies)

load more comments (3 replies)

[-] network_switch@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 weeks ago

Ya it’d be better if it didn’t require a phone number but it’s a solid start as it’s build up a user base over the past decade. Matrix is good but I know far less people that use it and it’ll be a long time of growing with nerdy/geeky communities before it starts getting more mainstream users

[-] maxo@feddit.org 2 points 2 weeks ago

I will switch to signal when I can avoid installing stuff on bunch of my devices. Until web version is available, sorry it hard for me to switch and for me to convince other people to switch.

[-] cupcakezealot@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago

signal not being on fdroid is a strike against them

[-] qaz@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It is though. I currently use Signal installed through F-Droid. You just need to add a separate repository.

[-] timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

Fair. There is Molly on fdroid if you like.

[-] AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 3 points 2 weeks ago

Molly is great.

load more comments (2 replies)

[-] Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago

Signal is on F-Droid.

load more comments

this post was submitted on 21 Jun 2025

117 points (96.8% liked)

Technology

72472 readers

1481 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.

Our Rules

Follow the lemmy.world rules.
Only tech related news or articles.
Be excellent to each other!
Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
Politics threads may be removed.
No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

L3s@lemmy.world

enu@lemmy.world

technopagan@lemmy.world

L4s@lemmy.world

L3s@hackingne.ws

L4s@hackingne.ws