I've always found giving away my phone number an unacceptable privacy barrier.
Whatsapp works by harvesting people's phonebooks, that's even worse.
When one of my friends asks my why I'm not on Whatsapp, I tell them that I don't want Whatsapp to have their phone number (the friend) from my phonebook, or to link us that way. Sometimes I will ask them why they thought it was OK to give away my phone number to Whatsapp with my name attached to it without asking for my permission.
Metadata! No one seems to care. Anything for convenience.
Telegram is available as a desktop app on Linux Mint. I user it daily.
I understand that.
DO you have to register a telephone number?
Yes and no. There are services that spoof a phone number so you can sign up.
OK Thanks.
I've always found giving away my phone number an unacceptable privacy barrier. Whatsapp works by harvesting people's phonebooks, that's even worse.
When one of my friends asks my why I'm not on Whatsapp, I tell them that I don't want Whatsapp to have their phone number (the friend) from my phonebook, or to link us that way. Sometimes I will ask them why they thought it was OK to give away my phone number to Whatsapp with my name attached to it without asking for my permission.
Metadata! No one seems to care. Anything for convenience.
registration process stops and repeats on that required input. I tried to give it my real number, but only US numbers are accepted.