Messaging Apps - WhatsApp - Voxer - Signal etc vs just regular text? (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

I see lots of people who talk about having a WhatsApp group or Voxer or Signal group for group messaging.

Can y'all explain it to me like I'm 5 why those are better than just a regular chat group using text on your phone?

Is the cost of SMS that expensive?

For me, the downside is the network effect. Everyone with a phone number has text ability.

But for the apps, you have to get everyone on the app to be able to communicate with the group, right?

I feel like I'm missing something as I can't see why people would do anything other than the easiest and most inclusive thing and go with text.

Thanks.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Is it all about privacy?

 

[Major]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

 

[Uruk-Hai]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

This. I travel to Mexico fairly often and a lot of those resorts have their concierges available through WhatsApp as a way to contact them. I have a few friends in Canada, and they prefer WhatsApp too.

 

[Joe Bryant]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I have another friend in the financial industry and they said they're not allowed to have the apps on their phone for compliance reasons.

 

[the moops]

Is the cost of SMS that expensive?

I don't think this is still a thing is it? Is anyone still paying for individual texts?

 

[MAC_32]

Is it all about privacy?

For the one chat I'm in on signal, that's it.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Is the cost of SMS that expensive?

I don't think this is still a thing is it? Is anyone still paying for individual texts?

That was my thought too. I was just trying to think of why anyone would use it over regular SMS texting that is so easy.

 

[the moops]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

I don't think these apps are nearly as secure or private as your friend thinks they are

 

[Joe Bryant]

For the platforms, is there any consensus for what is best?

 

[Cricket]

Throw in Telegram and you have listed the apps we monitor for national security purposes.

Whoever mentioned that these apps are end to end encrypted and hard to monitor does not realize that you are never as anonymous or protected as what one thinks.

 

[JAA]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

This. International.

Also, digital comms is much harder to subpoena over phone records (just sayin)

 

[Dan Lambskin]

I’ve only used What’s App, usually for kids sports teams I think it can be a little cleaner than a text thread, especially if you easily want to look for attachments (schedules, etc)

I also know a lot of people use it for international texting and calling

 

[gianmarco]

WhatsApp for a couple reasons

1) International. It's free, including video calls.
2) I'm on Android. Sending pictures and videos through WhatsApp preserves the original quality without compressing it down, especially when messaging with Apple. If someone with Apple texts me a video, it's a grainy mess that I can't see. On WhatsApp, it's full quality. Now with the addition of RCS, regular texting is better between the two, but still prefer WhatsApp.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't think these apps are nearly as secure or private as your friend thinks they are

What level of security and privacy do you think they have?

Compared to text are they much more private and secure?

 

[CletiusMaximus]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

Same for me. My only WhatsApp messages are with people outside the US. I think it’s extremely popular in Europe.

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

I'm not sure how they define "easily" but I wills ay, WhatsApp is owned by Meta. I'm fairly certain all of those messages are just a subpoena (or request) away.

iMessage is similarly encrypted and arguably more secure than WhatsApp, the issue is that is only relevant if you're chats are with other iPhone users. WhatsApp provides a way to have encrypted communication with anyone with WhatsApp, not to mention they also have built in audio and video calling. It's especially useful for traveling out of country, as SMS rates can get extremely pricey out of country as can roaming/minutes.

If you are exclusively chatting with a group of US friends who all have iPhones, WhatsApp is not needed.

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

I don't think these apps are nearly as secure or private as your friend thinks they are

What level of security and privacy do you think they have?

Compared to text are they much more private and secure?

SMS are not encrypted end to end, meaning you don't need an encryption key to view the contents if you ever got access. WhatsApp (and iMessage) are, so even if you got access to the raw data it would be useless to most.

However these companies often have backdoors into these things and, given the right pressure, can expose the contents if pushed.

 

[MTskibum]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

Same for me. My only WhatsApp messages are with people outside the US. I think it’s extremely popular in Europe.

Same, I have a fishing buddy from Trinidad, who lives in houston now, and he bugs me to download whatsapp, but i don't have enough people i want to communicate with on the platform.

 

[Hawks64]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

I don't think these apps are nearly as secure or private as your friend thinks they are

They are, and unless LEOs get access to the phone, they don't get access to the messages.

 

[Hawks64]

WhatsApp for international. Signal for mixed iPhone/Android. I love the ability to only keep a certain length of history in Signal as well.

 

[Sammy3469]

I have another friend in the financial industry and they said they're not allowed to have the apps on their phone for compliance reasons.

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

So both of these are correct. They're encrypted and can't be easily hacked. Depending on the app (ie Signal), you can also set it to delete your messages after a day or week and it hides things like your metadata.

Many financial firms have gotten fined hundreds of millions of dollars since these messages aren't recorded and they have laws/rules/regs that they have to maintain all business messages.

 

[B Maverick]

Good question.

I think my groups move to GroupMe or WhatsApp when the amount of people get larger than a couple. Mostly I use texting (SMS or imessage) for small groups (2-3 people). Two of my FF leagues have a GroupMe league chat going. Soccer team going to Vegas in May has a WhatsApp chat going. Also some of the kids teams have used either one.
Those are 12-18 people.

Might also be easier to add and remove people from the app chats instead of a text group and keep the history?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I have another friend in the financial industry and they said they're not allowed to have the apps on their phone for compliance reasons.

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

So both of these are correct. They're encrypted and can't be easily hacked. Depending on the app (ie Signal), you can also set it to delete your messages after a day or week and it hides things like your metadata.

Many financial firms have gotten fined hundreds of millions of dollars since these messages aren't recorded and they have laws/rules/regs that they have to maintain all business messages.

Thanks. Yes, that's what my friend was saying, Lots of people in his industry got fined for having them he said.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Good question.

I think my groups move to GroupMe or WhatsApp when the amount of people get larger than a couple. Mostly I use texting (SMS or imessage) for small groups (2-3 people). Two of my FF leagues have a GroupMe league chat going. Soccer team going to Vegas in May has a WhatsApp chat going. Also some of the kids teams have used either one.
Those are 12-18 people.

Might also be easier to add and remove people from the app chats instead of a text group and keep the history?

Thanks. Isn't it a hassle with all the different platforms?

I think maybe I put too much emphasis on simplicity but I like things in one place as much as I can. Does that factor for you?

 

[Joe Bryant]

For me it's about connecting with folks outside of the US

Same for me. My only WhatsApp messages are with people outside the US. I think it’s extremely popular in Europe.

Same, I have a fishing buddy from Trinidad, who lives in houston now, and he bugs me to download whatsapp, but i don't have enough people i want to communicate with on the platform.

And that's exactly the problem I think I'd have. I can envision people in the group not wanting to add another app when the text group works well.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't think these apps are nearly as secure or private as your friend thinks they are

What level of security and privacy do you think they have?

Compared to text are they much more private and secure?

SMS are not encrypted end to end, meaning you don't need an encryption key to view the contents if you ever got access. WhatsApp (and iMessage) are, so even if you got access to the raw data it would be useless to most.

However these companies often have backdoors into these things and, given the right pressure, can expose the contents if pushed.

Thanks. That lines up with what I was thinking after talking to my friend.

 

[belljr]

Turn on RCS for your MMS/sms

 

[Sammy3469]

Good question.

I think my groups move to GroupMe or WhatsApp when the amount of people get larger than a couple. Mostly I use texting (SMS or imessage) for small groups (2-3 people). Two of my FF leagues have a GroupMe league chat going. Soccer team going to Vegas in May has a WhatsApp chat going. Also some of the kids teams have used either one.
Those are 12-18 people.

Might also be easier to add and remove people from the app chats instead of a text group and keep the history?

Thanks. Isn't it a hassle with all the different platforms?

I think maybe I put too much emphasis on simplicity but I like things in one place as much as I can. Does that factor for you?

I was listening to Marc Andresson on some podcast, the gist of it is that if your group is big enough (and obviously he has millions of contacts he can add to a groupchat), the chat effectively acts as a private, secured Twitter with the added benefit that the posts miraculously disappear in 1 or 7 days and can be deleted at any time.

 

[B Maverick]

Good question.

I think my groups move to GroupMe or WhatsApp when the amount of people get larger than a couple. Mostly I use texting (SMS or imessage) for small groups (2-3 people). Two of my FF leagues have a GroupMe league chat going. Soccer team going to Vegas in May has a WhatsApp chat going. Also some of the kids teams have used either one.
Those are 12-18 people.

Might also be easier to add and remove people from the app chats instead of a text group and keep the history?

Thanks. Isn't it a hassle with all the different platforms?

I think maybe I put too much emphasis on simplicity but I like things in one place as much as I can. Does that factor for you?

I do like simplicity too and it was kind of a groan adding apps. But having used them on and off over the years it goes in spurts. Get used to it and its not year round. Plus when they do get going they don't get lost in the text app. Does keep it separated for a specific topic.

And having a bunch of apps on my phone already, what's one or two more...

 

[wlwiles]

I don't use any of them aside from group texts/SMS, but my wife uses GroupMe for several different groups. Other moms of my daughter's classmates, other mom's from the dance studio, etc. I posed this question to her and she said it's easier to share photos because some iPhone/Android/etc. users all in the same group. Easier to add/remove users without starting a new group everytime. And easier to find the group you want because it's in a separate app vs. lost in your string of texts. No mention of privacy concerns.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

What are people texting that needs to be encrypted?

 

[Joe Bryant]

I don't use any of them aside from group texts/SMS, but my wife uses GroupMe for several different groups. Other moms of my daughter's classmates, other mom's from the dance studio, etc. I posed this question to her and she said it's easier to share photos because some iPhone/Android/etc. users all in the same group. Easier to add/remove users without starting a new group everytime. And easier to find the group you want because it's in a separate app vs. lost in your string of texts. No mention of privacy concerns.

Thanks. That's helpful.

I didn't even include Groupme in my post. Great, so now there are 4 choices. I'm sure more.

For these extra features, I wonder if they're all about the same or if one platform has an advantage?

Signal is supposed to be the most secure, right?

 

[Joe Bryant]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

What are people texting that needs to be encrypted?

I'm guessing it's things they want to keep private. Maybe they're talking about sensitive stuff or maybe it's not appropriate. I don't know.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Good question.

I think my groups move to GroupMe or WhatsApp when the amount of people get larger than a couple. Mostly I use texting (SMS or imessage) for small groups (2-3 people). Two of my FF leagues have a GroupMe league chat going. Soccer team going to Vegas in May has a WhatsApp chat going. Also some of the kids teams have used either one.
Those are 12-18 people.

Might also be easier to add and remove people from the app chats instead of a text group and keep the history?

Thanks. Isn't it a hassle with all the different platforms?

I think maybe I put too much emphasis on simplicity but I like things in one place as much as I can. Does that factor for you?

I was listening to Marc Andresson on some podcast, the gist of it is that if your group is big enough (and obviously he has millions of contacts he can add to a groupchat), the chat effectively acts as a private, secured Twitter with the added benefit that the posts miraculously disappear in 1 or 7 days and can be deleted at any time.

Thanks. What platform does Andresson use for this? I'm guessing he's done his homework on it.

 

[nirad3]

I'm in several text groups. Some of them are iMessage, some are "mixed", and I do have WhatsApp for a local social group, but I turned the notifications off and very rarely even check the app as I'm not super-involved in the group or the events they plan. As others have suggested, WhatsApp is more secure.... but I find that scammers look to "add" you there, as it is tied to your phone number... so if they get your WhatsApp, they get your phone number... which is summarily sold to scammers/spammers.

 

[nirad3]

I don't use any of them aside from group texts/SMS, but my wife uses GroupMe for several different groups. Other moms of my daughter's classmates, other mom's from the dance studio, etc. I posed this question to her and she said it's easier to share photos because some iPhone/Android/etc. users all in the same group. Easier to add/remove users without starting a new group everytime. And easier to find the group you want because it's in a separate app vs. lost in your string of texts. No mention of privacy concerns.

Thanks. That's helpful.

I didn't even include Groupme in my post. Great, so now there are 4 choices. I'm sure more.

For these extra features, I wonder if they're all about the same or if one platform has an advantage?

Signal is supposed to be the most secure, right?

Oh, yeah. I have GroupMe for a dynasty football league messaging and Discord for another. Ugh.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I'm in several text groups. Some of them are iMessage, some are "mixed", and I do have WhatsApp for a local social group, but I turned the notifications off and very rarely even check the app as I'm not super-involved in the group or the events they plan. As others have suggested, WhatsApp is more secure.... but I find that scammers look to "add" you there, as it is tied to your phone number... so if they get your WhatsApp, they get your phone number... which is summarily sold to scammers/spammers.

Thanks GB. Someone did say they felt like they got added spam with Voxxer.

 

[Judge Smails]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

Yep. Fully encrypted. WhatsApp is used globally (went to Greece and concierge sent all messages via WhatsApp) and it works great. Much better than SMS

 

[DA RAIDERS]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

What are people texting that needs to be encrypted?

I'm guessing it's things they want to keep private. Maybe they're talking about sensitive stuff or maybe it's not appropriate. I don't know.

I just don’t get it. Cheating on their wives? Dirty pics? Tax evasion? Planning a coup? Trade secrets? Talking **** about the boss?

Makes no sense that the average person is concerned with security and getting their text messages subpoenaed. I wonder how many Fbg’s have been subpoenaed

 

[DA RAIDERS]

And I’m with @nirad3. I turned off what’s app notifications and rarely check it. I like the neighborhood chat(except when it goes off the rails) and I have a cousin in NZ and other friends abroad. I’m part of a massive ski club that is mostly annoying. And the scammer groups are harder to make go away IMHO.

 

[nirad3]

I'm in several text groups. Some of them are iMessage, some are "mixed", and I do have WhatsApp for a local social group, but I turned the notifications off and very rarely even check the app as I'm not super-involved in the group or the events they plan. As others have suggested, WhatsApp is more secure.... but I find that scammers look to "add" you there, as it is tied to your phone number... so if they get your WhatsApp, they get your phone number... which is summarily sold to scammers/spammers.

Thanks GB. Someone did say they felt like they got added spam with Voxxer.

Yeah I get spammed on WhatsApp even though I don't give my number out to use there. I think spammers just hit random #s hoping they hit - either on regular text or WhatsApp.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

I'm in several text groups. Some of them are iMessage, some are "mixed", and I do have WhatsApp for a local social group, but I turned the notifications off and very rarely even check the app as I'm not super-involved in the group or the events they plan. As others have suggested, WhatsApp is more secure.... but I find that scammers look to "add" you there, as it is tied to your phone number... so if they get your WhatsApp, they get your phone number... which is summarily sold to scammers/spammers.

Thanks GB. Someone did say they felt like they got added spam with Voxxer.

Yeah I get spammed on WhatsApp even though I don't give my number out to use there. I think spammers just hit random #s hoping they hit - either on regular text or WhatsApp.

Mine are always crypto bros and hot Asian wimmins looking to engage in light hearted chatting.

 

[Joe Bryant]

A friend replied to same question:

they're all end to end encrypted. No one is seeing messages on those platforms ever other than you and the people you’re messaging. It’s all about security and privacy.

SMS is easily hacked, tracked, or subpoenaed.

That sound right?

What are people texting that needs to be encrypted?

I'm guessing it's things they want to keep private. Maybe they're talking about sensitive stuff or maybe it's not appropriate. I don't know.

I just don’t get it. Cheating on their wives? Dirty pics? Tax evasion? Planning a coup? Trade secrets? Talking **** about the boss?

Makes no sense that the average person is concerned with security and getting their text messages subpoenaed. I wonder how many Fbg’s have been subpoenaed

That was my question. I don't get it either.

I don't see any reason to go outside of regular text chat. It's so easy and everyone has it. The friction of getting everyone to add another app so you can do the same thing you can already do on text chat didn't make sense. Yet I know tons of people use and love them. So I asked.

 

[Jaysus]

I started using apps like that so I could "text" from devices other than my phone... I spend a lot of time in front of something attached to a keyboard and I liked being able to send and reply to messages from that. I am back to texting for most of that now, but still have a family chat in telegram, and an old GB group in Google Chat (which has had 6 names and is prob the first one of the alt-apps I used)

 

[DA RAIDERS]

I started using apps like that so I could "text" from devices other than my phone... I spend a lot of time in front of something attached to a keyboard and I liked being able to send and reply to messages from that. I am back to texting for most of that now, but still have a family chat in telegram, and an old GB group in Google Chat (which has had 6 names and is prob the first one of the alt-apps I used)

Kids these days can do it all from laptops..

 

[Joe Bryant]

I started using apps like that so I could "text" from devices other than my phone... I spend a lot of time in front of something attached to a keyboard and I liked being able to send and reply to messages from that. I am back to texting for most of that now, but still have a family chat in telegram, and an old GB group in Google Chat (which has had 6 names and is prob the first one of the alt-apps I used)

I do that now with iMessage. Can Android phone users do the same?

I am just way more efficient with a desktop or laptop keyboard and use that for a ton of the texts I send.

 

[Chemical X]

in italy, i don’t know of any carrier that offers SMS included in phone plans. you get unlimited data and minutes, but SMS is charged per message. hence, no one here sends a text message so to speak. it’s only whatsapp. this could be the reason my phone plan is €19.99 a month, when att was banging me and my wife for $165 per.

 

[Jaysus]

I started using apps like that so I could "text" from devices other than my phone... I spend a lot of time in front of something attached to a keyboard and I liked being able to send and reply to messages from that. I am back to texting for most of that now, but still have a family chat in telegram, and an old GB group in Google Chat (which has had 6 names and is prob the first one of the alt-apps I used)

I do that now with iMessage. Can Android phone users do the same?

It's been an option for a while now...