I gave up social media over a decade ago, and after a few weeks forgot all about it. Found other ways to fill my down time.
This past spring, dove into LineageOS, not using MicroG or anything. All FOSS or at least open source + Proton (along with SimpleLogin for aliases). No MS (besides work), no Google, no banking apps (use browser). Hell, I don’t even have a SIM in my phone. I use jmp.chat (phone #) + Snikket (XMPP sever) and Cheogram (communication app for SMS and calls). Sure, explaining that sounds excessive, but to the average person, I’ve got 99%the same functionality everyone else does.
I get no more spam calls, my battery lasts 2-4 days depending on usage, WAY less email, and I’ve not received any emails or alerts about data breaches (so far).
Lemmy is more like a large forum or series of forms. Most people are in communities because of common interest whereas social media is more like looking at people around you or whom you’re friends with. It’s also anonymous where SM is people standing on their little soap boxes subconsciously screaming, “look at me!”.
I’m not saying map replacements are phenomenal. But CoMaps is using Open Street Maps, and for my measly little area I contribute a lot of data because POI are lacking. But for most use cases, its perfectly capable.
While yes, most/all banks require a phone number to login, they can’t force you to use the app. My banks require phone numbers for the text verification. Better than nothing but still shitty MFA. So I login through the browser, not app, and I have a VoIP # for text verification codes to go to. Also, the browser UI is close enough to the mobile app it’s easy enough.
I tried CoMaps and on my first test I navigated to the airport and it says there’s no metro connection (there is metro + bus). There’s obviously no photos or reviews for anything neither.
For banks, I have 2 that only work through the app, the others I could maybe set up to use SMS instead of the app, but then I wouldn’t be able to use it when I’m traveling abroad
You can always fill your area in Comaps. The more people use and contribute the better for all.
For me Comaps is enough. Before going somewhere new If i cant find it on OSM i search it online and add it
HEREWeGo was awesome for nav. That’s all I use it for, not reviews, pics, etc.
However, I no longer recommend it because Nokia sold HERE Maps to Uber and after the update it received (several years ago) it felt clunky and slower. I’m guessing adding in telemetrics and tracking stuff for their benefit was the reason, so I quit using it.
I drive an early 2010s car with navi and no telemetry/SIM so I’m happy to still use that. I paid $100 to get the update DVD-ROM for roads and POI.
Agreed, CoMaps is rough right now in US rural areas especially, however, for my county, I update POIs as I can, and download maps for offline use when I visit somewhere. Purely maps, POI info I look up or rely on referral for feedback. No Google reviews, no Yelp, nada.
You dont have a lot of people to converse with. I need 5 messaging apps to talk to people becuase they all use a different (shitty) one and won’t just change to Signal.
You dont travel much or live in the US where WiFi is rare in any area outside heavy urban.
Otherwise, that’s cool you can do that. If I did, I’d be talking to maybe 1 other IRL person who even knows wtf xmpp is.
XMPP is what WhatsApp is based on, and is heavily used outside the US.
I use Cheogram for XMPP & SMS/MMS, but because I have the “us number” through jmp.chat I can text regular people in their phones, too. Or call through the standard phone app. I use Signal and SimpleX too, but nobody I personally know uses Simplex.
I use “WiFi” but I hotspot my work phone and use a VPN with a custom set profile and no split tunnel.
Yeah it only made sense to piggy back on my work phone for now. I want to by a SIM from Calyx and run a hotspot officially since I’ve got the Orbic and Moxee hotspots for Rayhunter already.
Edit: my work phone has unlimited data and hotspot because I’m in IT. I really only go to work and home so I don’t use much data out and about. Now that I’m strictly F-Droid apps, too, I’ve noticed my monthly data used to be 12-15GB and now it’s around 6-8 over hotspot. So, far less background data from all the apps!
Sometimes, sacrifices are necessary.
I gave up social media over a decade ago, and after a few weeks forgot all about it. Found other ways to fill my down time.
This past spring, dove into LineageOS, not using MicroG or anything. All FOSS or at least open source + Proton (along with SimpleLogin for aliases). No MS (besides work), no Google, no banking apps (use browser). Hell, I don’t even have a SIM in my phone. I use jmp.chat (phone #) + Snikket (XMPP sever) and Cheogram (communication app for SMS and calls). Sure, explaining that sounds excessive, but to the average person, I’ve got 99%the same functionality everyone else does.
I get no more spam calls, my battery lasts 2-4 days depending on usage, WAY less email, and I’ve not received any emails or alerts about data breaches (so far).
Lemmy isn’t social media?
I’ve tried alternatives to Maps but honestly nothing comes close.
All bank accounts I have require a phone to log in.
Lemmy is more like a large forum or series of forms. Most people are in communities because of common interest whereas social media is more like looking at people around you or whom you’re friends with. It’s also anonymous where SM is people standing on their little soap boxes subconsciously screaming, “look at me!”.
I’m not saying map replacements are phenomenal. But CoMaps is using Open Street Maps, and for my measly little area I contribute a lot of data because POI are lacking. But for most use cases, its perfectly capable.
While yes, most/all banks require a phone number to login, they can’t force you to use the app. My banks require phone numbers for the text verification. Better than nothing but still shitty MFA. So I login through the browser, not app, and I have a VoIP # for text verification codes to go to. Also, the browser UI is close enough to the mobile app it’s easy enough.
I tried CoMaps and on my first test I navigated to the airport and it says there’s no metro connection (there is metro + bus). There’s obviously no photos or reviews for anything neither.
For banks, I have 2 that only work through the app, the others I could maybe set up to use SMS instead of the app, but then I wouldn’t be able to use it when I’m traveling abroad
You can always fill your area in Comaps. The more people use and contribute the better for all.
For me Comaps is enough. Before going somewhere new If i cant find it on OSM i search it online and add it
Co maps doesnt work for people in the US that aren’t new York city or Los Angeles folks.
Herewego is far better for me.
HEREWeGo was awesome for nav. That’s all I use it for, not reviews, pics, etc.
However, I no longer recommend it because Nokia sold HERE Maps to Uber and after the update it received (several years ago) it felt clunky and slower. I’m guessing adding in telemetrics and tracking stuff for their benefit was the reason, so I quit using it.
I drive an early 2010s car with navi and no telemetry/SIM so I’m happy to still use that. I paid $100 to get the update DVD-ROM for roads and POI.
Agreed, CoMaps is rough right now in US rural areas especially, however, for my county, I update POIs as I can, and download maps for offline use when I visit somewhere. Purely maps, POI info I look up or rely on referral for feedback. No Google reviews, no Yelp, nada.
For purely navigation, Herewego seems to work. But again, no photos, reviews or any info about a place. So for me, it won’t replace Google.
Yeah its a hard one to crack.
Assumptions:
Otherwise, that’s cool you can do that. If I did, I’d be talking to maybe 1 other IRL person who even knows wtf xmpp is.
XMPP is what WhatsApp is based on, and is heavily used outside the US.
I use Cheogram for XMPP & SMS/MMS, but because I have the “us number” through jmp.chat I can text regular people in their phones, too. Or call through the standard phone app. I use Signal and SimpleX too, but nobody I personally know uses Simplex.
I use “WiFi” but I hotspot my work phone and use a VPN with a custom set profile and no split tunnel.
Yeah in the US no one uses xmpp.
Ah that’s cool! I should see how that works.
Ohh that solution makes sense. Not all of us have a work phone.
Yeah it only made sense to piggy back on my work phone for now. I want to by a SIM from Calyx and run a hotspot officially since I’ve got the Orbic and Moxee hotspots for Rayhunter already.
Edit: my work phone has unlimited data and hotspot because I’m in IT. I really only go to work and home so I don’t use much data out and about. Now that I’m strictly F-Droid apps, too, I’ve noticed my monthly data used to be 12-15GB and now it’s around 6-8 over hotspot. So, far less background data from all the apps!