I really need to get in contact with some people on WB and have some groups to join and have been waiting for interoperability to get going so I don’t have to use zuck’s app . But the said date march has long passed and I can’t find shit on it or why it didn’t happen anywhere . I have yesterday downloaded the apk from WB’s official site and is in half a heart to install it . I know everything I say there should be considered public but besides that and the app knowing my IP and contacts is there any hidden data collection I should be aware of ? Or should I wait some more which I don’t think I can as am loosing patience lol . Also will it even be global or support apps that are really privacy focused unlike the usual suspects like TG or signal ?

  • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
    0·
    5 months ago

    Use matrix and bridges. Tchncs.de has a whatsapp bridge for free I think. Please consider donating because running this stuff is expensive. There are others as well but tchncs is the only one I know. I run bridges for myself and friends but they also chip in.

      • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
        0·
        5 months ago

        Many reasons:

        1. you can disable background updates, wifi and mobile data, location, etc. which renders the app useless. They cant collect directly from the phone that way.
        2. I have one app for all my messaging needs. No need to switch
        3. i will always ask for matrix communication first which takes meta out of the loop
        4. i have friends who arent tech savvy or ready to switch so I am not forced to use whatsapp
        5. its a fun exercise and I provide feedback for the makers of the bridges which helps development
          • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
            0·
            5 months ago

            I’m somewhat appreciative of the neutral tone you use in your comment but I’m kind of taken aback by the fact that you seem to think i wanted an answer to the points I made. I find it very rude to try and take apart someones reasoning which was given in good faith. If I wanted your opinion on that, I would have asked.

            I can see that it is not what you would do and I you dont seem to understand my reasons for doing what I do. I dont mind that. What I do mind is unsolicited critique or advice.

            Have a good day.

              • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
                0·
                5 months ago

                It’s great that you can form your own opinions. You should really refrain from pushing your opinions on others though.

                Good bye.

                • user@lemmy.world
                  0·
                  5 months ago

                  Firstly, they did not push anything on you. And this is the internet and a discussion focused site at that. You should either accept that people can reply to you without you granting them the right to do so, or reconsider participating within public discourse, for your own wellbeing.

    • Psych@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
      0·
      5 months ago

      Hey I’m sorry to ask but can you hand hold me through the process cause their brief discriprition went over my head lol . So I download WhatsApp and make an acc and download matrix and make an acc and then link it ? Can I then use matrix as a kind of WhatsApp client ? Can I talk to random users or join WhatsApp groups like I can in the official app ? I’m so confused lol . Also can I just delete the WhatsApp app after connecting and not worry about it ever ?

      • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
        0·
        5 months ago

        can you hand hold me through the process

        I can try but I cant promise anything

        So I download WhatsApp and make an acc and download matrix and make an acc and then link it ?

        You dont download matrix. You download a client for the matrix protocol. The client is your choice but will make a huge impact on your experience. I use fluffychat but I also have element as backup.

        You make an account on a matrix instance. tchncs.de is the best public one I can suggest.

        You then join their rooms and start asking people for help, politely. I havent used their process but i use the exact same bridges and they work.

        Can I then use matrix as a kind of WhatsApp client ?

        Whatsapp, signal, telegram and matrix in one app, yes

        Can I talk to random users or join WhatsApp groups like I can in the official app ?

        I dont know if you need to use a whatsapp client to join a group but you can def talk to anyone and in any group from my experience. this is open source stuff which you need to be aware of. if you’re not the product and you dont pay them, then you should help any way you can and be very patient.

        Also can I just delete the WhatsApp app after connecting and not worry about it ever ?

        You cant “not worry about it ever” on anything, ever. Either you pay someone to make your experience perfect (the mechanic that repairs your bike or your car) or you help yourself and ask for help politely.

        Whatsapp can lose the connection (happened to me once in like 3 months) and you will need a whatsapp client to reconnect and then you can forget it again.

        Also, its not a billion dollar company doing this so it needs testing and you’re the tester so consider submitting your experiences in the form of (rational) bug reports or similar.

        **TL;DR: FOSS software will never be “perfect”. It is a community effort to improve it. You always pay in this world: Money, Privacy or Work. If you dont, someone else must.

        • Psych@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
          0·
          5 months ago

          Uh why do you answer like I asked FOSS to be perfect ? I just had some dpubts about the functions but as far as I can see was never judgmental of Foss . Anyway seems like its not for me and tnx for the answer .

          • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
            0·
            5 months ago

            Uh why do you answer like I asked FOSS to be perfect ?

            What gave you the impression?

            Anyway seems like its not for me and tnx for the answer .

            How come?

            • Psych@lemmy.sdf.orgOP
              0·
              5 months ago

              Idk I kinda read your answer like that and you seem to stress multiple times that its Foss and not perfect etc etc .

              • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
                0·
                5 months ago

                Okay. I dont know how it happened but thats not what I wanted to convey. I did want to make clear that you can always pay someone to make it perfect or you can use the great options other people have invested money and time in and decided to share it for free.