Sure, let's just assume the status quo of WhatsApp. I'm sure that'll be much better.
this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2025
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There's no viable alternative in the US.
There is, just too many people refuse to use something more modern than 1987.
I'm going to save this video for family and friends who refuse to switch. It probably won't change their minds today...
Switch to what? I said "viable" but I meant realistic. It's not realistic that I will convince two hockey teams, my friends, my brother, my parents, my wife, my wife's parents, my kid's daycare, or anyone else to move to a new platform.
Oh, for sure.
Even though there are numerous easy to switch to, more private, robust, platform agnostic, and synchronizing apps out there.
It's arguable that even Telegram is more private than SMS.
I'm mostly willing to use whatever someone has, provided it's not one of the great offenders like WhatsApp. While I don't care for Signal (mostly becuase it doesn't have desktop sync, yet), I'll happily use it with anyone who has it. Or Teleguard, Telegram, XMPP (my preferred), etc.
I try to talk people into Signal, but no one cares and I look insane.
Were adrift on a ship of fools.
Start sending them faked messages.
Don't be surprised if "I've been sending texts for decades and nothing bad has happened" turns out to be a stronger case than "the YouTube video onomatopoeia send me".
What are you talking about? There are literally hundreds? What's not viable about them?
Convincing someone else to use them.
That's nothing to do with viability.
It has everything to do with viability. Something is not a viable alternative if no one can be convinced to use it.
They can be convinced. They just haven't been. That's not the same thing. Not viable means not capable.
No, not really.
Viable: “the ability to live, grow, and develop” or “the ability to function adequately” or “the ability to succeed or be sustained”
Source: the dictionary
Take your pic of any of those, it's still not that.
"sustained" is relevant.
I'm guessing if "literally" is your best adverb, then you may not be practiced in supporting normies trying to cope with seemingly capricious tech changes.
"sustained" is relevant.
User adoption does not make it sustainable. Many of them are nothing more than protocols. Code. It lives forever even if there are zero users.
I'm guessing if "literally" is your best adverb
I think you have me confused with another poster but thanks for the personal insult.
Ok, I understand your frustration. I've already mentioned in another comment that I used the wrong word. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. In the future I will use the correct terminology as to not frustrate you or portray a message in the incorrect form. I hope that I have caused you no inconvenience and wish for your forgiveness. Please do not hold these actions against me, as I do not intend to make such embarrassing and hurtful mistakes in the future.
Wow. Uhhhh that was an unnecessarily long and possibly sarcastic apology but I forgive you regardless.
I want to sincerely thank you for your forgiveness—it means more to me than words can express. Your ability to extend grace and understanding has truly humbled me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the second chance you've given me. Asking for forgiveness was not easy, but I now realize just how vital it is for healing and growth. It’s a reminder of the strength it takes to acknowledge our mistakes and the kindness that forgiveness brings, not just to the one being forgiven, but to the one doing the forgiving as well. Your compassion has taught me a lot, and I will carry that lesson with me moving forward.
Sarcasm confirmed.
What do you use when you want to send a message but you don't have an internet connection? Data plans are expensive where I live. Do you just wait for them to reach a Wi-Fi connection?
I'd love too, but too many people won't use anything but SMS.
In Europe it's just the other way round. Everyone but me uses WhatsApp and are too stupid to use SMS. Lemmings, all of them. /rant.
I'd be happy if people would just use signal, but no, it's goddam SMS, Snapchat, Instagram DMS, nothing with any kind of privacy or security. Just fucking awful.
I spun up a private matrix server for my immediate family, and I have gotten a few friends on it, but the vast majority just don't care and it's pretty frustrating
I'd say the best reason is that it costs money. At least that's why I don't use them.
Pretty much none of them cost money. SMS, however, does. So...pretty much the opposite of what you said.
Thats probably country dependant, SMS has been functionally free for a long time in Australia.
I'm not Australian but I'm fairly confident cell carriers aren't charitable organizations there...?
You pay for the phone plan, but all of them have unlimited SMS. So functionally, it's free.
That's not free, it's part of the phone plan...
A phone plan is required to use SMS. An internet connection is required to use WhatsApp/Signal/whatever. If the price of the phone plane has to be counted as the price of using SMS, then surely the price of the internet connection should be counted as the price of using Signal/WhatsApp?
Or, we could be realistic, and acknowledge that the majority of people already have phone plans and internet connections, and therefore SMS, WhatsApp, signal, etc are all functionally free.
No. The internet connection is not part of the app. You can run the apps without paying for internet. You can run them entirely on WiFi if you really wanted to.
And how much does WiFi cost?
Depends on what WiFi you're using. It can be free.
Why?