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0 pointsslg2y ago0 comments

>Email is a great example where most people wouldn't be interested in a version of email that only let's you email other @gmail.com users. Having a email address that can contact anyone, a phone number that can ring any other phone number etc instead of being locked into a single corporation network is a clear value add that people care about.

That is only because those technologies predate those companies. Normal people don't care that you can't DM a Reddit user on Twitter or that your Instagram posts don't automatically show up on your Facebook page. People are generally fine with centralized corporate platforms as long as it isn't a restriction of a previously free technology and the network effect has done its thing to attract enough people to the platform.

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NoZebra120vClip2y ago

Surely, normal people get exhausted and burned out with how many accounts they need to create on all the platforms, just to stay in touch with everyone in their circle of friends. It was already crazy for me in the 90s days of Instant Messaging, and pidgin was a Godsend to consolidate all those accounts and friends-list into one interface. Surely normal people hate on the sheer volume of apps they need to install on a phone with limited storage.

I know a few people who are on exactly one platform, and don't mind it, but most everyone seems to need tendrils all over the place to keep up with a normal Internet social life.

bombela2y ago

Pidgin was great.

Now I have all those different (web or not) applications, that never support all my devices. Most application steal a crazy amount of data, consumes bandwidth as if free on the way, while assuming they are alone and can consume all the resources of the computer they are running on. And they all have different UI (dark) patterns, and bugs and this and that.

</rant>

jacooper2y ago

The result of that is people stick to a know list of apps, and the chance of new apps breaking in is almost impossible.

Its why WhatsApp wasn't replaced by the mirad of chat apps that offer a better experience and better features.

irrational2y ago

> normal Internet social life

I guess I'm abnormal? They only way I contact any friends/family is text message or email. I've never used Facebook, Instagram, or whatever other platforms people use to "keep up with a normal Internet social life". Yet, I have a plethora of friends and don't feel like I have any problem keeping up with family. Maybe people don't really need these platforms.

jraph2y ago

Yes you are. In the sense that you deviate from the norm. Which is fine, really. I would hope so anyway.

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