I would prefer to use a standardised, client–agnostic messaging protocol than anything that requires a specific app.

I stopped using WhatsApp because using a Meta product makes me feel icky. I use Telegram and Matrix to contact drug dealers. My work requires a combination of Google Chat, Teams and Slack. Some of my friends like to stick to Discord.

What would be really great is if we could all decide on one protocol for sending end–to–end encrypted text and media over HTTPS to a globally unique ID and have everyone use whatever client they like. Like SMTP but more streamlined and secure. Google, Apple, Samsung etc can ship devices with a default client, but allow users to install another one that they like more.

But OEMs don’t like things to be open. Apple has iMessage, Google has RCS, and Samsung probably does some bullshit I’m not aware of since committing to the Pixel life. So I will probably always have a folder with 15 different messaging apps.

I created my first email account in 1999, and it’s the one I use for just about everything to this day. A couple of weeks ago I got fed up with constantly reorganising it. No number of rules or folders really solved the problem. There was just too much shit in there, and I have too much shit in my brain as it is. I deleted all of it. Saw a few flashes of emails to my childhood friends, from my first girlfriend, deceased family members. For a split second I thought “shit, no, these are my memories”. But no. Not anymore they aren’t. You’re free.