Matrix has optional encryption and is difficult for non-tech savvy users to setup.
That puts them at the mercy of tech users, and without mandatory encryption it makes people much more vulnerable.
That said, I use Matrix myself, mainly to use WhatsApp without using WhatsApp. I also built a translation plugin to use an LLM for translating to any language in a natural tone, with audio voice transcriptions and auto-translations of my voice messages to the target language.
So I like Matrix but still would recommend Signal.
It is for people outside of tech circles. Just having to locate an instance is a massive amount of friction. But you need to locate an instance and a client, and there are a lot of configurable options and things that can go wrong.
Signal is turn-key, easier than Whatsapp friction wise, encryption by default, open source, non-profit, and secure. I don’t like that their messaging platform isn’t more open and that they don’t have mitigation against, say, AWS going offline, but at the moment, they are the only app I have successfully migrated “normal” people to.
I think in the future, fediverse-esque tech will reduce their friction. Instead of managing instances, data is user-sovereign, instances never see non-encrypted user data, users automatically move between them, you don’t sign up you have generated signing keys that are opaque to users unless they want to see them (tech people), etc. Fediverse can actually be LESS friction than current social media people use, but that hasn’t been implemented yet.
For communications with my friends and family I set Matrix (with element) up for them and it works perfectly, though I can see why using signal is simpler.
I tried to pitch Matrix as a Slack alternative for my makerspace. We setup a trial server and ran into various technical issues. As you say, non-tech savvy users were going to have a hard time. It was enough that people didn’t want to make the switch.
My hope is that it gets better, and when Slack eventually stabs us in the back (which of course they will), Matrix will be sitting there in a better position.
Matrix has optional encryption and is difficult for non-tech savvy users to setup.
That puts them at the mercy of tech users, and without mandatory encryption it makes people much more vulnerable.
That said, I use Matrix myself, mainly to use WhatsApp without using WhatsApp. I also built a translation plugin to use an LLM for translating to any language in a natural tone, with audio voice transcriptions and auto-translations of my voice messages to the target language.
So I like Matrix but still would recommend Signal.
Encryption is enabled by default in most sane clients for DMs. Groups are not by default because encryption in huge groups is slow.
And if you use a public server it’s not that hard to set up.
It is for people outside of tech circles. Just having to locate an instance is a massive amount of friction. But you need to locate an instance and a client, and there are a lot of configurable options and things that can go wrong.
Signal is turn-key, easier than Whatsapp friction wise, encryption by default, open source, non-profit, and secure. I don’t like that their messaging platform isn’t more open and that they don’t have mitigation against, say, AWS going offline, but at the moment, they are the only app I have successfully migrated “normal” people to.
I think in the future, fediverse-esque tech will reduce their friction. Instead of managing instances, data is user-sovereign, instances never see non-encrypted user data, users automatically move between them, you don’t sign up you have generated signing keys that are opaque to users unless they want to see them (tech people), etc. Fediverse can actually be LESS friction than current social media people use, but that hasn’t been implemented yet.
That’s fair.
For communications with my friends and family I set Matrix (with element) up for them and it works perfectly, though I can see why using signal is simpler.
Your method is good, but it also makes them dependent on you for messaging.
What happens if something happens to you? What if you get bored? What if you don’t have time to maintain it?
It is actually a big responsibility, and most people aren’t lucky enough to have someone like you in their lives.
I tried to pitch Matrix as a Slack alternative for my makerspace. We setup a trial server and ran into various technical issues. As you say, non-tech savvy users were going to have a hard time. It was enough that people didn’t want to make the switch.
My hope is that it gets better, and when Slack eventually stabs us in the back (which of course they will), Matrix will be sitting there in a better position.