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> I don't think I'll ever get to request it, because I'm pretty sure it's going to fail, especially with my parents and other from this age group - having them

by tapoxi 6y ago

> I don't think I'll ever get to request it, because I'm pretty sure it's going to fail, especially with my parents and other from this age group - having them download another app, signup, etc. will be too complicated. I moved my whole family to Signal, and its surprisingly easy. It asks for their phone number, name (it's autocompleted) and a pin. You can create a link to your family's group chat so then can join without needing someone to invite them.

jsmcgd 6y ago
I'm in the process of moving family and friends. For my friends who I believe are more than capable of moving, I just said them that I'm leaving WhatsApp, you can still reach me on Signal. Then I block them on WhatsApp, so I don't relapse. Almost all of them have moved across so far. I installed Signal for my mom and then blocked my myself on WhatsApp on her phone, so she's forced to use Signal to contact me. If someone can use WhatsApp they can definitely use Signal. It's more secure and it's cleaner.
- thinkloop 6y ago
  > Then I block them on WhatsApp, so I don't relapse That's the key move, it takes guts
Sodman 6y ago
Most people's whole family is already using WhatsApp to communicate amongst themselves, especially outside the US. It's not that signal is any harder to use, it's that you now need everyone to unlearn their "Use WhatsApp" behavior, and the only justifications you can give them is "Facebook/Privacy!". This might work with younger groups who really care about that stuff, but as you move up the age groups you'll start to find people who think "Well I already use Facebook daily, how is this different? Why should I care?", and eventually hit the age group that doesn't know the difference between SMS and WhatsApp, they're all just "messages". Obviously I'm over-generalizing a bit here, but even if I got my parents using Signal, they'd still use WhatsApp to talk to their friends. My parents' parents are even more locked in. Short of charging a monthly fee, I don't think there's anything WhatsApp could do that will get a majority of folks to actually uninstall it.

by tapoxi 6y ago

jsmcgd 6y ago

I'm in the process of moving family and friends. For my friends who I believe are more than capable of moving, I just said them that I'm leaving WhatsApp, you can still reach me on Signal. Then I block them on WhatsApp, so I don't relapse. Almost all of them have moved across so far. I installed Signal for my mom and then blocked my myself on WhatsApp on her phone, so she's forced to use Signal to contact me. If someone can use WhatsApp they can definitely use Signal. It's more secure and it's cleaner.

thinkloop 6y ago
> Then I block them on WhatsApp, so I don't relapse That's the key move, it takes guts

Sodman 6y ago

Most people's whole family is already using WhatsApp to communicate amongst themselves, especially outside the US. It's not that signal is any harder to use, it's that you now need everyone to unlearn their "Use WhatsApp" behavior, and the only justifications you can give them is "Facebook/Privacy!". This might work with younger groups who really care about that stuff, but as you move up the age groups you'll start to find people who think "Well I already use Facebook daily, how is this different? Why should I care?", and eventually hit the age group that doesn't know the difference between SMS and WhatsApp, they're all just "messages". Obviously I'm over-generalizing a bit here, but even if I got my parents using Signal, they'd still use WhatsApp to talk to their friends. My parents' parents are even more locked in. Short of charging a monthly fee, I don't think there's anything WhatsApp could do that will get a majority of folks to actually uninstall it.