FediFollows has moved!Feb 8, 2022

Seeing lots of posts about people using #Signal and trying to get friends and family onto it.

This might not be a good idea, here's why:

-Signal is centralised.

-Centralised services are difficult/impossible to leave, because of the network effect.

-Centralised services can be sold to other people without warning.

-The guy who runs Signal is a billionaire who sold WhatsApp to Facebook in 2014 (that's how he became a billionaire).

What will you do if history repeats?

Show threadTommi đŸ¤¯Feb 8, 2022

@FediFollows I know, but, come on, it is very hard to get some change by being integralist…

More people on #Signal means less people on #WhatsApp… that’s already a start.

Show threadThe Ghost of ÉmilieFeb 8, 2022
@tommi

What does "integralist" mean? đŸ˜Œ I think I get your meaning—that just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean that it doesn't have an overall good effect.

That kind of thinking does have its place, though. It informs people of the negative aspects of something that they might not have been aware of previously.

Besides, Signal is probably one of the most popular private chatting apps, which is good and bad. It's good because now more people are aware of private chatting apps because of Signal, but it's bad because everyone is flocking to Signal instead of considering alternatives. I imagine that puts a lot of stress on Signal's servers, and it also means that Signal has a lot more power than it should (Signal could decide to add an anti-feature and people wouldn't have a choice but to accept it). If Signal has more competition, then ultimately that's better for everyone.

It is not a bad thing if people choose alternatives over Signal, as long as they're good alternatives.

@FediFollows
Show threadThe Ghost of ÉmilieFeb 8, 2022
@tommi

On top of all that, Signal doesn't have a business model (do they?) How are they affording all of their servers / paying their developers? If Signal becomes more popular, then they will have more expenses, which is bad for Signal.

@FediFollows
Show threadTommi đŸ¤¯

@thebiologist1117 @FediFollows

you have a point.

In any case, I absolutely agree that #Signal is not the perfect solution, not even close, but at least it starts solving something.

Something is better than nothing.

Feb 9, 2022 at 9:59amWeb