Privacy @lemmy.dbzer0.com Forumite @lemm.ee 6d ago

It's time to stop using SMS, here's why!

www.privacyguides.org /videos/2025/01/24/its-time-to-stop-using-sms-heres-why/

Privacy Guides @lemmy.one Forumite @lemm.ee 6d ago

www.privacyguides.org /videos/2025/01/24/its-time-to-stop-using-sms-heres-why/

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38 comments

Sure, let's just assume the status quo of WhatsApp. I'm sure that'll be much better.
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.
  
  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.
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 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'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
Why?

38 comments