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Ask HN: Which messenger app is good in 2023?

1 points by dcminter ↗ HN
Facebook finally closed down the Messenger Lite app¹ that I've been relying on since the main Messenger app became so overburdened with adverts that I couldn't bear to use it any more. Now I'm looking for a replacement.

Mostly this will be for my wife and myself, on Android, but we'd prefer something where we can reasonably easily connect with our friends. Adverts (and Meta) are a dealbreaker, paying for the service isn't. I've lost track of which app Google are abandoning next, and I don't love the idea of tying identity to a phone number. I'd prefer something I can use from the (Linux) desktop as well.

What do you recommend? Help me HN, you're my only hope...

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¹ https://techcrunch.com/2023/08/24/meta-is-shutting-down-messenger-lite-for-android-in-september/

5 comments

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smt88
WhatsApp is building interoperability due to EU regulations and most of your friends probably have it already anyway.

The best mainstream messenger is Signal, but it's less likely your friends have it and it isn't going to be interoperable soon or (probably) ever.

dcminter
WhatsApp is from Meta, and I'm not keen to leap straight back into their clutches. I kind of assume it will end up as infested with adverts as the Facebook one? But perhaps there's reason to doubt that?

Signal uses 'phone numbers for the identifier which I'm (perhaps weirdly) reluctant to deal with.

smt88
Why does the phone number thing bother you? You're far less anonymous with any other messenger because they centralize metadata about you.

Signal is private, not anonymous. The only info someone can get from Signal, even if they have your phone, is "a person with this phone number uses Signal". That shouldn't be particularly sensitive info in most countries.

dcminter
The lack of anonymity doesn't bother me at all. More the dance one has to do if one changes phone or phone number, combined with the fact that a phone number is not a very ergonomic thing to give out as a contact detail. I'm not ruling Signal out, though.
samketchup
I use Signal and the android app is great