In response to Facebook or WhatsApp requiring side-loading, one might remark: > "Just don't use services provided by Meta" There are insurmountable network ef

In response to Facebook or WhatsApp requiring side-loading, one might remark: > "Just don't use services provided by Meta" There are insurmountable network effects. For example, I must keep WhatsApp on my phone if I want to know when child's swim practice is moved/canceled/etc. There is only one swim team in the area. Getting other parents to use Signal ain't happening unless the head coach requires it. The head coach isn't moving to Signal unless parents already use it. Moreover, I'm a coach, so I have more say/power over this than typical. Of course, I could always force my kid to find another after school activity... or, I can buy an iPhone. At least with an iPhone I can deny Meta access to my Contacts, which it incessantly requests. This is just one concrete example. There are plenty of organizations land-locked to Facebook for the same reasons; dropping Facebook is tantamount to collapsing the community they built. For me, checking the monopoly power of Meta by using an iPhone is the least worst option. At least Apple has interests that are partially aligned with mine... as they want me to buy my next mobile device from them.