I read that #Meta has launched #Threads and many don't understand why it's not fully usable via the web but only through a dedicated mobile app. Meta isn't interested in letting us talk but rather in collecting as much data as possible. Browsers have become (more) skilled at protecting us, while apps can have almost complete access to our mobile devices, gathering data that an average person couldn't even imagine. And our mobile devices have become the safe (or should I say, the exposed pantry?) of our lives. #privacy#datacollection#SocialNetworks
@stefano it's crazy people don't understand that anything Meta or Twitter or Twitter 2.0 (Bluesky) does is to gather data about users and monetize them, not some altruistic reason to build social connections. I'm so happy I found this place.
@stefano Does depend on the browser, though. Browsers by surveillance capitalists and surveillance capitalist adjuncts (i.e., almost all major browsers) will at the very least need configuration in order to project your privacy.
Indeed. The Mastodon app collects no data and uses the same ActivityPub, yet the Threads app collects a whole lot. This doesn't affect others on the Fediverse but people need to be smart and pick a better instance. Threads offers users nothing that a ton of other instances don't already offer with no bullshit attached.
I only access my instance through the website. I don't believe in installing apps to access something that an existing browser app can easily serve to me on a webpage.
Being app-only is basically telling us that the only reason Meta is doing this is because the app will let them monetize (through ads and data collection, presumably) access to the decentralized Fediverse so many of us are already enjoying.
Interesting to note that only Instagram users, not Facebook users, will be able to log into Threads with their existing accounts. This says that app development is on the Instagram end, which itself required the app to fully access, originally.
Yup, as opposed to Facebook which started as a website then added an app. Instagram started as an app, then added a website. Twitter also started as a website, and that's the only way I've ever used it. Like Facebook and Mastodon (I heard on joining that the official Mastodon app is not very good, lol).
When Instagram originally came out, I was using a Blackberry. Instagram was only for iPhone and Android users, so I was left out until they finally granted access through the website.
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