Let's Chat on Signal!

Hey there! I've chosen to use Signal for cross-platform messaging instead of WhatsApp.

Most chat apps say they’re private — but they’re not. Big companies like Meta use your messages to learn about you, track who you talk to, and sell that info to advertisers. That’s not cool. Signal is different. It’s free, nonprofit, and built entirely around protecting your privacy. No ads, no tracking, no creepy data collection — just real conversations that stay between you and the people you care about.

I'd love to explain more, so read on if you're interested.

Skip to contact info if you just want to add me without reading all this!

What is Signal?

Signal is a messaging app (just like WhatsApp, Messages, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger). You can send texts, photos, videos, voice messages, make calls – all the usual stuff.

The key difference? Signal is only option with stong privacy, and also works on all major platforms (Android, Apple, Linux, Windows, etc.). It's used by journalists, activists, and regular folks who care about keeping their conversations truly private.

Character holding smartphone with Signal app

What's End-to-End Encryption?

Think of it like sending a letter in a locked box that only you and your friend have the key to. Nobody in the middle – not even the postal service – can open it and read what's inside.

🔑

You Send

Your message gets locked with a special key

🔒

Travels Encrypted

Nobody can read it along the way

🔑

They Receive

Only they can unlock and read it

With end-to-end encryption, only you and the person you're talking to can read your messages. Not the app company, not hackers, not governments. Nobody.

"But I Have Nothing to Hide!"

Person relaxing at home with curtains representing privacy

Privacy isn't about hiding bad things – it's about having control over your personal information. You probably close the bathroom door and draw your curtains at night, right? That's not because you're doing anything wrong. It's just... normal.

Privacy is a right, not a privilege reserved for people with "something to hide."

Would you be comfortable with:

📧 Your email provider reading all your emails?
🏥 Your doctor sharing your medical history with advertisers?
💳 Your bank selling your purchase history?

Of course not! Private conversations deserve the same respect.

How Do Different Apps Compare?

Here's the breakdown of which popular messaging platforms use end-to-end encryption and their privacy reputation:

Platform

Encrypted?

Privacy Reputation

Signal

✅

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

iMessage

✅

⭐⭐⭐⭐

✅

⭐⭐

⚠️ (Secret Chats only)

⭐⭐⭐

SMS (the original)

❌

⭐

RCS (enhanced SMS)

⚠️ (Sometimes)

⭐⭐

Facebook Messenger

⚠️ (Optional)

⭐

The catch: Just because an app has encryption doesn't mean you can trust the company behind it with your data. More on that next...

What About Metadata?

Even when your messages are encrypted, apps can still collect metadata – information about your messages, rather than the content itself.

Metadata includes:

👥 Who you message and how often
⏰ When you send messages
📍 Where you are when you message
📱 What device you're using
📞 Your entire contact list

Think about what this reveals: metadata can show your social network, your daily routines, your relationships, and even predict your behavior – all without reading a single message.

Why Meta/WhatsApp Loves Metadata

For Meta (Facebook/WhatsApp's parent company), metadata is extremely valuable:

🎯 Targeted advertising: They know who your friends are, what you're interested in, and when you're most active
💰 Building profiles: Metadata connects across all Meta platforms (Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp) to build a complete picture of you
📊 Selling insights: This data is Meta's entire business model – they sell access to your attention

WhatsApp's privacy policy explicitly states they share metadata with Meta. Even though your message content is encrypted, Meta still learns a lot about you, and the people you're talking to.

How Signal Handles Metadata

Signal takes a radically different approach. They've engineered their system to collect as little metadata as possible:

🔐 Sealed Sender: Signal can't see who you're messaging
🚫 No contact list uploads: Your contacts stay on your device
⏱️ Minimal logs: They only know when you last connected to their servers

When the FBI subpoenaed Signal for user data, Signal could only provide two pieces of information: the phone number and the date the account was created. That's it. They literally can't hand over data they don't collect.

Who Owns What? (And Why It Matters)

WhatsApp (Owned by Meta/Facebook)

Business Model: Free app funded by advertising and data collection across Meta's platforms

Their Incentive: Collect as much data as possible to sell targeted ads

What They Know: Who you talk to, when you talk, your location, your phone contacts, and metadata about your messages (even if messages are encrypted)

Meta has repeatedly faced privacy scandals (Cambridge Analytica, anyone?). Their business depends on knowing as much about you as possible.

Signal (Non-Profit Foundation)

Business Model: Funded by donations and grants. No ads, ever.

Their Incentive: Protect your privacy at all costs

What They Know: Basically nothing. They can't even see who you talk to. They only know your phone number and when you last connected.

Signal's entire mission is privacy. They've been subpoenaed by courts and had literally nothing to hand over because they don't collect your data.

When a for-profit company gives you a service for free,
you are the product they're selling.

What's Up With Blue and Green Bubbles?

You've probably heard that in the Apple Messages app, some bubbles are blue, while others are green. This is because the Messages app accepts texts both from Apple's modern iMessage service, and also the old-school cellular SMS system. The situation would be clearer if Apple used a separate app for the iMessage service, but they don't, so there's a privacy reason for the color distinction:

Hey! How's it going?

Blue = iMessage
Encrypted, sent between Apple devices

Hey! How's it going?

Green = SMS/RCS
Not encrypted (or only sometimes), sent to non-Apple devices

Blue bubbles mean your message is being sent via Apple's iMessage system, which uses end-to-end encryption. Your conversation is private.

Green bubbles mean your message is falling back to SMS or RCS, which isn't reliably encrypted. Your cellular carrier can read these messages.

The color difference has become socially charged, with some people treating green bubbles as inferior. This happens because SMS/RCS is the messaging channel that Android and Apple have in common by default. It ends up looking like Messages is telling you Android is gross.

To me, the colors indicate security, not status. Unfortunately, the connotations are out there even if they shouldn't be.

There's no color drama with Signal. Signal messages are always encrypted, regardless of what device we're using.

What Else Makes Signal Great?

Signal isn't just secure – it's also got all the features you'd expect from a modern messaging app:

🔒

End-to-End Encryption

Every message, call, and video chat is completely private

😂

Reactions & Emojis

React to messages with emojis, send GIFs, and express yourself

👥

Group Chats

Create groups, send photos, plan events – all encrypted

🎬

GIFs & Stickers

Full support for GIFs, stickers, and all that fun stuff

⏱️

Disappearing Messages

Set messages to automatically delete after a chosen time

📞

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear calls with no one listening in

It's everything you're used to, just actually private.

Ready to Connect?

Getting started with Signal takes about 2 minutes:

1️⃣ Download Signal from your app store (it's free!)

2️⃣ Verify your phone number

3️⃣ Message me!

Download Signal

Use my phone number to find me on Signal.

Signal will automatically connect us once you add my number to your contacts!

Thanks for taking the time to read this! I really do appreciate it, and I'm looking forward to chatting with you. 💙