I just learned that I’ll be losing a friend over this.
I exaggerate. It’s not that we won’t be friends, we probably just won’t keep in touch as much. Here’s the story.
I let some FB friends know that I’ll be leaving Facebook (at least personally) in the coming weeks and that will include FB messenger. There are safer options out there after all.
A friend reached out and asked if I’d be dumping FB messenger too. Messenger is the main way we communicate, although SMS/texting is also an option.
I suggested that my friend try out SIGNAL so we can stay in touch but also do so privately and more securely.
Their response was understandable. They didn’t think they could handle one more messaging app on their phone.
This is just one way these companies hold us hostage. “If I don’t use it I’ll lose all my friends.”
I’ll be moving forward as planned anyway and I fully expect that someday, slowly but surely those friends will start to consider if they want to be spied on and tracked or if they’d like to be free like me.
Today was also day 2 of leaving my cell phone at home while I was out in the world. This time for 8 hours. I didn’t miss anything and it was just fine.