What chat program would be best for the following group?
March 20, 2023 4:51 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for a chat/instant message program that can accommodate a bunch of people in my extended family. There are several technological and social constraints from the various people involved (see inside), and none of the candidates I'm know about work for everyone. What other options are out there?
Here are the households involved:
Here are the households involved:
- Two people in their 70s. They have a shared iPhone but don't use it often. Beyond that, they have a shared iPad. Located in Canada.
- One person in her 40s. Has Android phone. Located in Canada.
- One person in her 60s. Has iPhone. Located in the US.
- Two people in their 30s/40s. Each has their own iPhone. Located in the US.
- Plain old SMS costs money across international borders (Canada/US).
- Apple iMessage doesn't work with the Android phone in Household #2.
- Facebook Messenger would work, but various people in Households #2 & #4 refuse to have anything to do with it.
- WhatsApp comes the closest, and right now that's what Households #2–4 are using to chat with each other. However, there isn't a native iPad version for Household #1; and while they could use the web version of WhatsApp (after signing up on their phone), that won't give them notifications on the iPad when new messages are sent to the group. Also, Household #1 is probably the least tech-savvy of the people involved; they're relatively tech-savvy for septagenarians, but more complicated stuff may end up being frustrating and/or fragile for them.
I think Signal checks all your boxes. End to End encrypted too.
posted by Mitheral at 5:10 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Mitheral at 5:10 AM on March 20, 2023 [2 favorites]
I think Telegram would probably work if Signal doesn't.
posted by BungaDunga at 5:56 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by BungaDunga at 5:56 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Can you review the settings in household #1's ipad? I believe you should be able to get notifications from Whatsapp via Safari, per this page.
posted by sagc at 6:05 AM on March 20, 2023
posted by sagc at 6:05 AM on March 20, 2023
I believe you should be able to get notifications from Whatsapp via Safari
Unfortunately Safari on iPad and iPhone can’t do push notifications until the 16.4 OS update comes out later this year.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 6:15 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately Safari on iPad and iPhone can’t do push notifications until the 16.4 OS update comes out later this year.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 6:15 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Can you review the settings in household #1's ipad?
I should note that I'm in household #4 and so any tech support I provide to household #1 will need to be remote. An option that doesn't require me to talk someone through adjusting their settings would be preferred.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:32 AM on March 20, 2023
I should note that I'm in household #4 and so any tech support I provide to household #1 will need to be remote. An option that doesn't require me to talk someone through adjusting their settings would be preferred.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:32 AM on March 20, 2023
My friends and family use Keybase for this. Works well.
posted by flabdablet at 6:49 AM on March 20, 2023
posted by flabdablet at 6:49 AM on March 20, 2023
The only tech support I've needed to provide for Keybase is explaining to people that one of the first things you need to do with a new Keybase account is add a paper key to it, which you do using the app's Devices setting. A Keybase paper key is a 13 word nonsense phrase that Keybase will generate for you, which you should print out and put away in a drawer somewhere.
The only time you'll actually need that paper key is if the last of all the devices you've added to your Keybase account dies. Keybase relies on private cryptographic keys, not passwords. Normally you'd just use an existing device to authorize a new one's access to your account as part of the process of installing Keybase on it, which usually only involves scanning a QR code. It's very easy.
But all access to your Keybase account is secured using private keys that exist only inside your own devices (a paper key counts as a device for this purpose). If you lose all your devices, there is nothing whatsoever that you or Keybase or anybody else can do to recover your account for you; the crypto just isn't built that way.
posted by flabdablet at 7:22 AM on March 20, 2023
The only time you'll actually need that paper key is if the last of all the devices you've added to your Keybase account dies. Keybase relies on private cryptographic keys, not passwords. Normally you'd just use an existing device to authorize a new one's access to your account as part of the process of installing Keybase on it, which usually only involves scanning a QR code. It's very easy.
But all access to your Keybase account is secured using private keys that exist only inside your own devices (a paper key counts as a device for this purpose). If you lose all your devices, there is nothing whatsoever that you or Keybase or anybody else can do to recover your account for you; the crypto just isn't built that way.
posted by flabdablet at 7:22 AM on March 20, 2023
Telegram works nicely across Android, Apple, and web interfaces. I only use it domestically but I have a friend who uses it to keep in touch with friends in other countries, so my best guess is if there is any additional cost/complexity for international usage it's either pretty cheap and/or a one-time set-up expense. I don't know that for sure, though.
posted by Stacey at 7:51 AM on March 20, 2023
posted by Stacey at 7:51 AM on March 20, 2023
Whatapp and/or WeChat
WeChat also had wifi call and even video call if you have enough bandwidth, and the voice chat is very simple. Pretty much works like a walkie-talkie: hold space down to record, let go to send.
posted by kschang at 9:59 AM on March 20, 2023
WeChat also had wifi call and even video call if you have enough bandwidth, and the voice chat is very simple. Pretty much works like a walkie-talkie: hold space down to record, let go to send.
posted by kschang at 9:59 AM on March 20, 2023
I also use discord for this because of the ability, as the admin of the discord, to archive and save collections of data (video, photos, links, etc.) for future reference into threads that are as accessible or inaccessible as you wish them to be. However, it's not *trivial* to make a discord backup but it is possible using external tools.
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 10:38 AM on March 20, 2023
posted by MagnificentVacuum at 10:38 AM on March 20, 2023
At least 1/3 of Europe is using Viber for this. End-to-end encryption, group chats, multimedia, group video calls... In my experience, having to use Whatsapp for some family members feels like a downgrade after getting used to Viber.
posted by gakiko at 10:43 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gakiko at 10:43 AM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
My family has used Viber for a group chat for several years. It seems to work across devices and age of members and isn't owned by Facebook/Meta which is a plus for some.
posted by emd3737 at 11:47 AM on March 20, 2023
posted by emd3737 at 11:47 AM on March 20, 2023
Both Signal and Telegram can also do voice chat and video calls.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2023
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:40 PM on March 20, 2023
I use Telegram for this. Confirming that it does indeed work internationally for chat/picture/voice messages, voice and video calls at no cost.
posted by Athanassiel at 1:28 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Athanassiel at 1:28 PM on March 20, 2023 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Too-Ticky at 5:10 AM on March 20, 2023 [5 favorites]