100% (of zero, but still). Japan uses LINE primarily which has its own issues, but no one is moving particularly with integrated payment processing and native-level japanese support.
this post was submitted on 07 Apr 2025
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None has moved completely, but two family members and one friend have installed Signal to chat with me. Contacts are ok, people know I don't have WhatsApp and use SMS in stead, but social neighborhood/hobby/association groups won't move and it often leaves me out of the loop unless they remember to toss an email.
Absolutely none.
Unfortunately I have just one contact who is actively using signal :(. Everybody else is on Whatsapp.
My work is on WhatsApp using several groups to manage info, my landlord set up a WA group and every tenant is required to be in it, my extended family communicates everything through WA groups, my friends and direct family were on Telegram because of me but then Durov's arrest happened and I don't think I can convince them again, I'm cooked LMAO
It's trending backwards tbh. Last year I got most of my friends to use Signal, but they for some reason uninstalled en masse this month
WhatsApp has actively been saying it uses the Signal protocol and that they cannot read your messages, the files you send or listen on your calls. It does that on its own Status feature, its blog, channel and even website ads (which worked on tech-illiterate people that can't use an adblocker)
At least in the Netherlands, it's very actively pushing a โYou don't need Signal, just usโ message.
I donโt use Google products or services so I have iMessage (along with many of my friends) but oodles of us use signal instead. Iโve never used Facebook messenger or WhatsApp, I wonโt touch Facebook services.
I'd say around 90% are on Signal.
Most of them. Family is fully on Matrix/Signal/Threema. Close friends are all on Signal. Some acquaintances are still WA-only, but I've stopped telling people that I have WA/Telegram, so new contacts are Signal/Matrix/Threema only.
Interesting. How is it with your local neighborhood discussions groups, sports/hobbies clubs, this kind of things? I've noticed those are the most difficult to switch
Hm, I don't have too many of those. The one large one I have was on Signal already, but that's mostly luck.
If it's a >10 people group that has already been established on WA, you're probably out of luck. If a group has not been established yet, your best bet is probably to be super proactive: "Yes, good idea, let's do make a group! Here, I've set up the Singal group, just scan this QR code to join! Oh, you don't have signal? Oh, nevermind, it's super quick to set up, and then you can simply join via the QR! I'd really hate to see you not be part of the group chat, but of course it's up to you if you want to join..."
The most recent example I've seen is a group of parents to keep in touch for school daily life.
Your approach is good, but I guess most of the people would be like "Hm, I already have a Whatsapp account, can't we just use that? I'm not that tech savvy"
Yeah, true. I think there's no way around being pushy/almost manipulative.
"I fortunately no longer have WhatsApp. Especially with things concerning our children, I would NOT trust Facebook with that. I am completely open to using something else, does not have to be Signal - do you use any secure and private messenger apps where we can create a group?"
It's an uphill battle for sure. And you have to think about and set your own limits. I hate using WA, but for some contacts, it's better than having NO contact.
Definitely!
Network effect's a bitch.
99% WhatsApp.
Yeah, it's tough work to get people to change. So far I managed to convince my family and a buddy of mine to get Signal and they only did it so they can communicate with me after I told them I won't be using Whatsapp. The vast majority of people told me it's too much of a bother to switch. They know where to find me anyway.
I gave up on the ideea of convincing people to ditch Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. It's a lost cause.
WhatsApp, I don't think anyone. It's pretty much inevitable here in Germany. But I've had several friends delete their Facebook and old Twitter accounts during the past months. I don't really know what Apple users do. I wouldn't be surprised if they just keep using iMessage and whatever services are part of Apple's ecosystem. I mean that's kind of why people buy Apple products in the first place.
To my surprise, through recent events, a long standing friend group chat migrated from wa to signal, sure, thats only 7 people but 5 of them installed signal for it which is quite the big step
Nice!
All family. Some friends.
After Meta was changing the rules so they could harvest WhatsApp userโs contacts I convinced my extended family to use Signal. They still use Signal because thatโs the only way to include me however they all use WhatsApp as well.
They use Signal just for you even if they don't use it for themselves? You're not even the only one in this thread that says that.
Some of you know some really nice people!
I've given up, gotten some really harsh reactions from everyone
Yeah, it's like they feel personally attacked
Here in germany signal is quite common nowadays.
I never had whatsapp. I use signal since 2017/2018. back then i had 3 contacts. At some point there was a big movement away from whatsapp - i think because of their terms oft usw changed?. Sadly most oft my friends first moved to Telegramm cause it was more convenient than signal back then. But with covid and more information on Telegramm most of them shifted to signal. Some of it was my work but many oft them just changed by themself.
Even my large family group with grandmas, Cousins etc. is entirely on signal. All of my friends are. New colleagues are. But this was already before the current movement.
However, whatsapp is still the default in germany. Many of my friends and family have both, signal and whatsapp. And it depends a lot on your bubble. I was lucky with my bubble.
Thank you for sharing
Zero. Stuck on WhatsApp.
No-one has moved off WhatsApp to Signal, I'd probably encourage them to go to Matrix at this point.
I don't do Facebook, just lurk under a pseudonym so I can follow some groups that only post there.
Explaining Matrix to new users is pretty hard. Signal looks and feels exactly like WhatsApp though. It's much easier to understand for new users (at least in my experience).
Same here
I would do Matrix but doesn't that require hosting your own server?
Not at all. There are plenty of instances available to join, although most people default to matrix.org (including me).
Ah cool, interesting I'll check it out then.
Definitely do, it is the default secure messaging service used by folks on the Fediverse. There is a Buy European room - see sidebar for a link
The vast majority of my communication happens in signal thigh I still have whatsapp around for the small cadre of friends I am yet to convince to move over.
I got my close friend to move, but ultimately they don't care. I'm amazed that some of them still use x, whilst complaining about all the shit that Elon does.
I'm resigned to the fact that all my friends are treat-brained libs
Well done!
I have like 10 contacts in Signal and 3 in threema, none of which are close friends or family. Everyone still uses whatsapp. I think it would take something like a big security breach for people to switch. Just the prospect of having your personal data stolen and supporting fascist enablers doesn't seem to be enough.
I have very few people not on Signal, but most of my circle is still on Whatsapp either because of work, other friends or family that won't switch.
We all moved from Telegram to WhatsApp a little while ago once Durov got arrested and the feds got into it, and I was the one that got them on TG in the first place as it was a trustworthy, good alternative to WhatsApp, so it's gonna be a tall ask to move again from WhatsApp so soon, and Signal is just... Not good. At least it lets you move messages between devices as of recently which is good, if me or my gf lost any messages to each other we'd be pretty upset, but the mandatory updates and other quirks are still barriers.
I use signal with my coworkers and I feel like it's a real 50/50 if they even get a message notification or a message will just vanish. Sometimes the desktop app or the web app just won't sync messages or won't stay signed in and require my phone to reauthenticate.
It only became possible not that long ago to send animated GIFs from your local device storage through WhatsApp without them being turned into a static image, which has been a basic feature that was missing for most of its lifespan.
One of my older friends has a Facebook I think. I've no idea if she uses it, she's kind of odd. I've never heard of anyone using iMessage outside the US tbqh.
I was the one that got them on TG in the first place as it was a trustworthy, good alternative to WhatsApp, so it's gonna be a tall ask to move again from WhatsApp so soon
Same. It kinda hurts.
I still use Telegram more than Signal for similar reasons. Signal is still a bit barebones, Telegram has so many features that it's a bit crazy.
Yes, encryption is home made, it's shouldn't be used for any sensitive information, etc. But to have a friends group sending memes to each other, it does the job.
I refused to get on those blighted apps, so a steady 0%.
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