As an ex - #Telegram proselytizer, I'm saddened by the fact that Telegram's privacy protections are almost totally absent, and by the lack of solid alternatives.
Lack of E2EE is a big no-no for chats, as it should be the default in all cases, and it's a shame that Telegram lacks it. #Matrix does this right, but from my testing all Matrix clients are wonky to use and not very user-friendly.
#Signal's good, but requires a phone number to register, which I'd rather not need, as it limits your interactions with strangers, with whom you don't want to share something as personal as a phone number.
#SimpleX seems like the most encouraging option right now. Totally encrypted, routed through #Tor, and removes even the most basic forms of #metadata (even usernames, if needed!). And it also has a relay-client architecture, like #Nostr.
Thoughts?
https://simplex.chat/