What alternative Android apps do you use for social media that are currently in the enshittification phase?

https://lemmy.world/post/3206301

What alternative Android apps do you use for online platforms that are currently in the enshittification phase? - Lemmy.world

Obviously the ideal thing to do would be to stop using them entirely, but if you’re like me and you still have that one subreddit you still need to check on, some of your friends are still there, or you can’t find alternatives to YouTube’s content, then maybe you’re also looking for alternative front-ends that would at least remove the ads and trackers while you look at those sites. So I was wondering, what alternative apps do you use on Android for those services? As for me, here’s my small list (all of these are FOSS apps, and with the exception of OldLander, it is better to install them from F-Droid to have the automatic updates): * Reddit: * Geddit [https://github.com/kaangiray26/geddit-app]: native Android client for Reddit that allows you only to browse it anonymously, ie no account is needed; * RedReader [https://github.com/QuantumBadger/RedReader]: another native Android client that I discovered recently, and it’s surprisingly good. Its UI is simple and sleek (though you might want to disable ā€œlink buttonsā€ in the settings), and you can log in to post and comment; * OldLander [https://github.com/OctoNezd/oldlander]: this one is not really a standalone app. Before RedReader, whenever I needed to comment, I used this userscript together with Tampermonkey on Firefox Android. It basically makes old.reddit.com [http://old.reddit.com] mobile-friendly. There’s also a Firefox extension version of it which should be even better when Firefox Android supports desktop extensions; * Twitter X: * Squawker [https://github.com/j-fbriere/squawker]: very good app to look at tweets without needing an account. You basically manage your followings locally on your phone, and you can even group them however you want. Overall it gives you an experience that is very similar to that of an RSS reader. (EDIT 2023-08-17: looks like another Elon change took place and Squawker is no longer able to load tweets, hope the dev can find a way around this šŸ™) * Youtube: * NewPipe [https://newpipe.net/]: I probably don’t need to present this one. No account needed. (enshittification pic from The Hustle)

SmartTubeNext is an excellent alternative to the default YouTube app, especially on Android TV.
You mean, only on Android TV. They don’t have a phone app, and explicitly stated they are not interested in developing one.
You can still install it on phones. It’s janky though because it’s designed (obviously) with the expectation of remote navigation, not touch.
I agree with you, whether we can does not mean we should, that’s what Revanced is for.
It pairs well with YouTube revanced though. YouTube revanced can cast to SmartTube, so the cast button is functional again.
I’m using BubbleUPnp for screencasting.

Which is annoying tbh.

Would be nice if the smart whatever (see I forgot their app name already while typing) team would… team up somehow with the revanced team and they agree on one name, one app. Having two apps for what is essentially the same OS with a different skin is… silly. Like an app for Apple TV and a different app that does essentially the same thing for iOS.

I’m pretty sure they do it to fly under the radar, since mobile clients are far more dominant than smart TV applications.

And there’s also newpipe as an alternative to Vanced (or rather the other way around, I believe newpipe came earlier), and even a fork with sponsorblock integration. I personally vastly prefer them over vanced/revanced.

Revanced has sponsorblock though and has for a while
LibreTube is another YouTube alternative - this one can also use Piped API
GitHub - libre-tube/LibreTube: An alternative frontend for YouTube, for Android.

An alternative frontend for YouTube, for Android. Contribute to libre-tube/LibreTube development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
So from what I get LibreTube is one layer of privacy above NewPipe in that your phone will be interacting with a Piped instance instead of the Youtube servers directly?
Yes, as far as I understand. I also like the interface more, but that’s just personal preference.
LibreTube also let you read replies to comments.

YouTube ReVanced

A bit of work to get set up, but pretty damn good once it is.

I can’t remember the last time I saw an ad.

I thought the devs no longer supported the project?
The code probably got forked (copied) and continued to be developed by someone else
Actually, the code for Vanced was never open source, so Revanced isn’t technically a fork. They had to recreate all of Vanced’s features manually.
and contrary to Vanced, if I recall correctly, ReVanced is open source

ReVanced is not Vanced, the one that got shut down.

Here's a good starting guide https://www.reddit.com/r/revancedapp/comments/xlcny9/revanced_manager_guide_for_dummies

ReVanced Manager guide for dummies

# Guide last updated: 2023-08-28 # A few things to note before we begin - This guide is for **non-rooted devices** but should still work fine on...

reddit
ReVanced Extended is the shit. Unfortunately the dev seems to have stopped work on it, so might have to switch back to ReVanced at some point.

I see updates from as recent as last week on github?

On that note, if anyone sees this comment or another and wants to try YouTube revanced (or extended) DO NOT JUST BLINDLY GOOGLE AND CLICK THE WEBSITE THAT COMES UP FIRST

I have no idea if that site is owned by a legit dev or not. What I do know is the legit devs directly say on github, where the source code can be reviewed, to NOT download from any other place than github.

Sorry for the PSA but I just don’t want people downloading possibly malicious code from random sites. It’s easy to fall into the blindly search, blindly install hole.

github.com/inotia00/ReVanced_Extended/activity

The dev has archived the repo now. I read somewhere he’s irritated with people messaging him after installing from the auspicious sources you mentioned.

Activity Ā· inotia00/ReVanced_Extended

ReVanced Extended Issues/Request repo. Contribute to inotia00/ReVanced_Extended development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
There ever been a decent alternative for YikYak made yet? I miss those days lol.
truly the real days of chaos, i loved that app
Damn I haven’t heard of that app since like the 8 years I was in college ago
I just use YouTube in Firefox with ublock origin
Google Playstore is also in the shittification phase. The amount of ads and sponsored apps is an eye sore. I use F-Droid as an alternative but most mainstream apps are not there.
If went downhill from the moment Google disallow system-wide ad blockers on Google Play. They still allow 3rd party web browser to include ad blockers as long as the ad blockers only work on that 3rd party web browsers, but how long until they decide to disallow that as well?
Not wrong. If I search for a particular app it gives me an advert based on that search at the top of my screen that looks mostly like the first search result. It’s begining to remind me of schetchy warez sites I use to not use as a teenager.
It’s really insane. The sponsored app even has a big fat ā€œInstallā€ button next to it! I’ve never actually clicked it, but I ALMOST click it every time.
I use Yattee as a YouTube alternative on iOS. Check out YouTube for a short tutorial.
I still use Friendly for Facebook rather than the app but bits keep breaking which I understand is Facebook's intention.
I watch youtube on Mozilla with u block origin, on newpipe with sponsor block and also on freetube on pc
This. YouTube app disabled, Firefox + unlock origin ftw
Slimsocial instead Facebook official app.
Xtra instead of Twitch app, it’s better in every way

Revanced for youtube, someone even uploaded prepatched apks and ofc newpipe

infinity for reddit, its on fdroid

aliucord for discord, vencord for browser (rip opencord)

ReVanced

Continuing the legacy of Vanced.

infinity for reddit

Wait, it still works? I didn’t know that!

yeah, you can use your own api incase the developer’s grace period ends
  • Piped for watching YouTube

    • LibreTube provides a native client.
  • Never was on Twitter, but I enjoy mastodon

Simon Müller :maxwell_cat: (@[email protected])

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I can’t for the life of me add a single account to follow on squawker
I can confirm that it sadly broke today, might be another Elon change in how they show the tweets. Guess we’ll have to wait for the squawk dev to update the app.
Thanks, I don’t even have a Twitter account anymore, but there are some accounts I’d like to follow
the dev noticed it, so hopefully there could be an update: github.com/j-fbriere/squawker/issues/45
[3.3.3] The feed is empty Ā· Issue #45 Ā· j-fbriere/squawker

Checklist I am able to reproduce the bug with the latest version. I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - which I could contribute my information to. I have taken the time ...

GitHub
Good to know! Because the app looks pretty good
i use squawker for the calyx xmpp/jabber instance
Revanced Extended.
collabora office (may have incorrect spelling) count’s right