Hey man, if you can convince anyone to use Briar, do that. I have better luck getting people to use Signal because it’s way more popular and easier to sign up. And if I want to know if someone uses it, I can find out instantly.
I have a little pull in my group of friends. I’ve got 11 kids and I make them use Briar (SMS is removed from the phones) and so their friends end-up getting Briar and then their friends’ parents have also gotten it. So we have a nice little circle of people using it.
I’ve tried to get everyone I know on Signal, so far my mom is the only one who uses it and that’s only when she accidentally taps the wrong icon when she intended to send me an SMS.
And then there’s my stepsister who complains about not being able to have a unified chat because she and family are apple while most of the rest of us are android. Signal Diane, it’s a cross app platform that solves your problem…but no it’s not apple so it won’t work…🤬
Sadly it’s just not working. I’ve spent time evangelizing Signal, I’ve responded to SMS with invite links to Signal and a message that I’d prefer to use Signal. Just a bunch of no’s and one “just grow up and text me back”.
It reached the point where I could tell I was pissing people off so I gave up. Now if messaging apps come up during a family gathering I just say “you know I recommend Signal” and leave it at that.
I’ve had people refuse to do or adopt something just out of spite because I pushed too hard, I don’t think they would go that far here, but better safe than sorry.
Yes and no, Signal is more convenient but convenience doesn’t play into a scenario where I have no way to message someone on a given platform. And most people aren’t interested in a conversation about which messengers they’re using.
How well do the signal and whatsapp bridges work? Have you used them yourself? I tried setting up a discord bridge years ago and it was terrible. Is it better now?
They have been,well, complicated and uncomfortable, a few years back but gradually improved.
I use both and they are alright.
The WhatsApp Bridge works flawlessly for me, no issues at all, the signal bridge has occasional issues that require a restart of the container (as in “once every one to three months”),but that’s more on the signal end of things.
While they are not ideal they are the best option at the moment.
Good. It’s the only encrypted channel I trust right now.
I’d consider using them if I didn’t need to use a phone number to register. My friends and family stick with Briar as a result.
Hey man, if you can convince anyone to use Briar, do that. I have better luck getting people to use Signal because it’s way more popular and easier to sign up. And if I want to know if someone uses it, I can find out instantly.
I have a little pull in my group of friends. I’ve got 11 kids and I make them use Briar (SMS is removed from the phones) and so their friends end-up getting Briar and then their friends’ parents have also gotten it. So we have a nice little circle of people using it.
Nice
Convenience vs security
Security vs having someone to message.
I’ve tried to get everyone I know on Signal, so far my mom is the only one who uses it and that’s only when she accidentally taps the wrong icon when she intended to send me an SMS.
And then there’s my stepsister who complains about not being able to have a unified chat because she and family are apple while most of the rest of us are android. Signal Diane, it’s a cross app platform that solves your problem…but no it’s not apple so it won’t work…🤬
How about this:
Sadly it’s just not working. I’ve spent time evangelizing Signal, I’ve responded to SMS with invite links to Signal and a message that I’d prefer to use Signal. Just a bunch of no’s and one “just grow up and text me back”.
It reached the point where I could tell I was pissing people off so I gave up. Now if messaging apps come up during a family gathering I just say “you know I recommend Signal” and leave it at that.
I’ve had people refuse to do or adopt something just out of spite because I pushed too hard, I don’t think they would go that far here, but better safe than sorry.
Then perhaps the approach was the problem? Maybe the ship has sailed now, but I’m envisioning something a bit more tactful like:
Don’t get in everyone’s face over it, just mention it once or twice and stick to your guns of being kinda slow to reach over text.
Yes and no, Signal is more convenient but convenience doesn’t play into a scenario where I have no way to message someone on a given platform. And most people aren’t interested in a conversation about which messengers they’re using.
After years of trying, I finally got my wife to use signal!
I text with her the most so it’s a big win for me (and her even if she doesn’t realize it.)
I’ve gotten a couple dozen people chatting with me on Signal at this point, including my parents.
Matrix is also an option and heavily audited+ federated. And unlike Signal not based in the US.
And the best? You can easily selfhost a bridge to signal and WhatsApp.
How well do the signal and whatsapp bridges work? Have you used them yourself? I tried setting up a discord bridge years ago and it was terrible. Is it better now?
I’m just learning this is an option, but Matrix Signal Bridge.
Best I can tell from the documentation, we add the Matrix server bot to a signal account, and it relates messages between the two platforms.
Yes, exactly. That’s why it’s preferable to use them self-hosted as the E2E of course ends on the server.
They have been,well, complicated and uncomfortable, a few years back but gradually improved. I use both and they are alright. The WhatsApp Bridge works flawlessly for me, no issues at all, the signal bridge has occasional issues that require a restart of the container (as in “once every one to three months”),but that’s more on the signal end of things. While they are not ideal they are the best option at the moment.
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