Hi! My less-than-10-year-old has their own iPad (registered under my apple id) and wants to be able to “text” with the rest of the family. Most of us are not Apple people though: Android phones, using some combo of SMS, Discord, and Signal. The little one doesn’t have a phone, so I think that prevents us from signing them up for Signal. I could probably install Discord on the iPad, though it doesn’t feel ideal. They use iMessage (or whatever it’s called) to text a couple other friends/grandma/etc who also have Apple stuff, but what should we use for our mostly-non-Apple family that wouldn’t require a phone number?
An internet search pointed me to WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber… stuff I’ve never used but it seems popular. Facebook Messenger also, but screw that. Google Chat/Hangouts (or whatever it’s called now) is another option, which would require creating a google account.
If nothing else appeals to me we’ll probably go the Discord route, and I’ll just have to be clear, don’t join random servers :) But, anybody out there use WhatsApp with your kid, and does it not require a phone number? I’m open to other ideas! Thank you…
Matrix via Element
If you guys have gmail accounts, use Google Chat.
You could use Matrix. https://matrix.org/ecosystem/clients/ if you’re trying to not sign up for an account on the big platforms.
Matrix is the best
Simplex.chat might work for you.
I’ve only come across this with a search so I’ve never used it https://www.kinzoo.com/kinzoo-messenger
I’m a big fan of Microsoft Teams; full featured chat with easy voice and video calls, and you can sign up with any e-mail address (even non-Microsoft accounts).
Step 1 - create a child account for them. Do not share an AppleId with them
Matrix could be nice, it’s similar to Discord but it’s private. You can even set up your own server. Signal is another great option, very secure and user friendly, but IIRC it needs a phone number (unless something changed).
Slack? Threema?
I would suggest Element (Matrix) and if you want to step it up you can host your own server (synapse) for your family and still be connected with other servers through federation, just like with Lemmy. The good part is that your kid does not need a phone number to use it.
Other good alternatives like Signal do require a phone number.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Session.
