I remember a time when visiting a website that opens a javacript dialog box asking for your name so the message “hi <name entered>” could be displayed was baulked at.

Why does signal want a phone number to register? Is there a better alternative?

  • Autonomous User@lemmy.world
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    11 days ago

    Signal is not perfect but we control its app, libre software. See SimpleX Chat.

    First, we must defeat WhatsApp and Discord.

    • Mio@feddit.nu
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      11 days ago

      Why we need to defeat those first? We can go straight to SimpleX?

      • Oniononon@sopuli.xyz
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        10 days ago

        Because the entire point of using communication programs is to communicate with people other than yourself.

      • foremanguy@lemmy.ml
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        11 days ago

        You can go to Simplex (for sure a lot of people here already done it) but if only privacy nerds get to this place this is not a great solution. We (I’m talking about us using Lemmy and chatting on SimpleX) must convince people, starting by friends and family to stop using these fucking socials then at this point SimpleX will be considered as a viable alternative

      • Célia@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        11 days ago

        What SimpleX, Signal, or any app like this need first and foremost is traction, as new users generate more new users. One of Signal’s goals is usability (usually achieved by being simple, as in no complexity for the end user). In my opinion SimpleX lacks that. This is the same reason Signal needs a phone number: populating your contact list with users already on the platform

        • Autonomous User@lemmy.world
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          11 days ago

          reason Signal needs a phone number: populating your contact list

          Wrong, it is not optional.

          Do not let this derail us. Escaping to libre software is the best return on investment.