I have decided to write down the reasoning behind me not (yet) closing my Facebook account. Which I really want to do, but feel like I cannot (yet).
My background: software developer.
What I use Facebook for: to keep up to date with family and friends.
In other words: I do not need “outside” people to see my posts. Not everything has to be shared with everyone for me.
I have noticed a lot of people opening up bluesky accounts “because it is not meta”, (which is a good thing, obviously).
The only issue is that the fediverse is a twitter (I refuse the name X) platform. Everything is public. On friendica, I can at least control who follows me, but I cannot determine who can see my posts.
So in my case, what happens is that some people might open a bsky/fediverse account, realize that everything is public and not use it again.
Why does the fediverse not have a privacy control to limit who can see and interact with your posts? While I do realize that with the Federation protocol everything is sort of public, this is the thing that keeps me from moving from fb to fediverse.
Edit: Holy crap guys, thank you for all the responses. The fediverse is aliiiive.
Too much to respond to, but:
1: yes i know fb is evil 2: as soon as the friend updates end, i stop scrolling. No desire to see all the stupid diy “tips”. 3: yes it sounds lame to use it to keep updated, but there is quite some distance between me and my friends and family 4: even if mastodon has the ability to not make posts public, every node admin can access the database. And I think that goes for every Federated platform, diaspora included.
Literally my only attachments to Meta at this point. I want to delete my account so badly.
I’ve heard that you can keep your account but delete your Facebook Profile
Same my friend, same… I’m on FB since 2008 or so as all my families and friends. For years now everyone gave up on it (I mean nobody is posting their vacation or food plate anymore) and the feed is mainly sponsored ads and far right stuff (In Canada there is no official news, only alternatives news).
But everyone are still using Messenger to talk, we have groups etc, and damn Marketplace is the thing here in Montreal, everyone is using it and it’s incredible to buy/sell, you need it or you will never buy/sell anything used.
I’m in the same boat, I want to ditch Meta, but Messenger/Marketplace has no alternatives.
Unfortunately, also, all the good old forums died off and people are using FB groups now, but it’s not as good
I never installed WhatsApp or Messenger on my mobile devices. I’ve found Signal is a good alternative, and increasingly people are adopting it… https://signal.org - it’s owned by a charitable foundation, not a mega corporation.
Also owned by Meta
For marketplace there is a project in development. It’s called Flohmarkt. Not quite ready yet for primetime but worth keeping an eye on
https://codeberg.org/flohmarkt/flohmarkt
OfferUp, while not defederated, seems like a good option for a marketplace alternative for now.
Messenger can be replaced by signal, discord, or any other messaging type app.
… Messenger can be replaced by what the person you’re trying to communicate with is willing to use. I’ve resisted using WhatsApp on my personal phone for years because I just don’t trust Meta products, but you have to have it in Costa Rica. It’s just a fact of life. Same with messenger in a lot of ways.
Why do you “have to use” whatsapp in costa rica? Other services don’t work there?
network effect
There are countries where every service has their official support on WhatsApp. I just booked a medical appointment via WhatsApp, it’s the preferred method of communication.
I think they’re saying the friends and family don’t understand or can’t/won’t figure out the alternatives. If you want to text them you have to use Messenger.
It’s sad, and familiar. All of my extended friends and family on Windows I just have to give them a sad look, like, “Aw. Poor thing.”
Oftentimes you can convince people to switch for one on one convos, but in a lot of places, all the group chats are on whatsapp, so like your alumni chat, your work group, your friend group, the group that was made for that event next week.
Those things are near impossible to change unless you are close to the organiser and they are willing to do you a big favour.