Asklemmy

In my circles, it became popular during the pandemic and a number 1 source of misinformation, with an unnerving amount of obvious links to Russian propaganda- covid related, yes.

So after seeing the extreme antivaxxers join the telegram train, and seeing how gullible acquaintances got "tips" from their telegram groups, I just couldn't take the app seriously. I understand logically maybe the app itself is better than WhatsApp, I understand this may be just my personal experience and that there was just as much trash on WhatsApp. But having my sane contacts using WhatsApp already and my family on Signal, I never saw the need to switch.

• Signal

while I have used telegram in the past, the association of it being used heavily by cookers and q idiots really just put a bad taste in my mouth

Here in Costa Rica people are used to using WhatsApp. Even after the terms controversy they kept on using it

Personally I prefer signal, and that's the problem isn't it.

Signal is much better than Telegram in terms of privacy. Do people find Telegram more convenient?

Well, everyone uses WhatsApp here, and makes it weird when I say I don't have WhatsApp... I'm still never going to install spyware vulnerable with possible backdoors to my personal device. And that's how I become so lonely, I have a bit of autism also xD, so I tend to be alone and like to be alone. If someone needs something from me, they can email me or call at my phone (normal calls are neither safe nor secure) and if not I also installed Telegram on desktop where it is open source, but I only use Telegram to download stuff like movies.

WhatsApp actually has decent encryption. The company behind it is also less shady (some millionaire "giving away" a free chat service that's unencrypted? And then tries to fund itself with cryptocurrency and ads? Not great!). WhatsApp's encryption hasn't been broken so far, despite its proprietary apps leaving a potential for backdoors.

Telegrams apps have a much better desktop user experience than most secure alternatives. I blame the Electron based design versus a native Qt based design. Signal is just as clunky ad WhatsApp, if not worse.

In the end, it's the network effect. Americans swear by SMS/RCS and iMessage. Some countries almost exclusively use Line. WeChat had a user base even WhatsApp and iMessage could only dream of.

I'd love for my peers to install a Matrix client and chat with them over an open network. I'll also gladly set up an XMPP client if anyone wants me to use thst. However, if you're picky about what apps you use, you'll be "that friend that requires a specific app to talk to". In many countries (like large sections of Europe) WhatsApp is the safe default everyone can use because it was one of the very first phone oriented chat apps that brought in a huge user base.

Telegram is also a popular method for extremists to talk to a large audience through channels. ISIS and far-right extremists have used this feature to radicalise more and more people, which have given Telegram a bad name.

Because I'd rather be spied on by the USA than Russia.

Not being spied on is not an option if you want to stay in contact with people.

Cause people are too lazy to download a better app.

Telegram is my fav messenger too (yes I know Signal is great too)

I don't know that anyone I know uses either.

Depends on which of your social groups uses WhatsApp or not. If your IRL friends are in IT they might prefer to use Signal because of their knowledge and understanding; but the average person will use the app that everyone else has as well.

Because whatsapp was huge way before telegram came around and most people dont want to switch. A message platform is only useful if most people you know use it as well.