Let's Talk Platforms.

Intro

Discord was made in 2015, with the idea of creating a gamer-focused platform for communication. However, it’s simply just a datafarm in disguise. Requesting your messages to be deleted under GDPR? Too bad, they own your messages now. Want to wipe all your messages in a server, or just from the platform using a script? Nope! Perma-ban. “We are Discord, and we love making life hard for our users!”

So, where would I go to if I want to talk to my friends, but also not be milked dry by data brokers? Hmm…

Platforms

Fluxer [Link]

Fluxer is essentially Discord’s privacy-focused cousin. While not as tightly-locked as Matrix or SimpleX, it’s still a great choice if coming from Discord. If you ask your friends to move to IRC, 9 times out of 10, they will just block you. Fake friends, I know. However, Fluxer’s features easily outweigh Discord’s in terms of… well, everything. It’s also open source.

Oh yeah, its Plutonium (Nitro) plan is like… 5 bucks. Only. That gets you all the features. No “basic” tier, nothing. Just… Plutonium. Also, their mobile app JUST hit stores. Go check your App Store or whatever. Aurora. APKPure or whatever (don’t use APKPure, seriously). Check. It.

IRC [Link (Halloy)]

While not exactly the flashiest, it is extremely stable. IRC has been around since 1988, and provides extremely great features for what it’s worth. It works like this: you connect to an IRC server using whatever client you want, and boom. It’s used a lot by sysadmins, so unless you’re techy, stay out of #tech. M’kay? oh, and #sysadmin. Stay out.

Trying out IRC won’t kill you. Most it’ll do is teach you a thing or two about the ’90s.

SimpleX [Link]

SimpleX is literally what happens when paranoia and anxiety collide and create… The Big Bang. Anyways, it doesn’t even have User IDs. No randomly generated strings, no numbers. You cannot be identified through a string of characters on SimpleX. You are anonymous.

It’s not recommended if you expect an easy setup and a “good ol’ jolly time”. Even simpletons have a hard time setting up a Matrix account. Imagine them trying to set up SimpleX… Heh…

I would only really recommend SimpleX if you are actively (or rather, assume to be) under heavy surveillance with your online profiles being tracked constantly, or just really, really hate yourself. Use it if you’re a target of interest.

Matrix [Link]

A classic choice. A balance between security and privacy. You can host your own homeserver, or use a public one like Unredacted.org. While Element is busy trying to cash in on a missed opportunity to monetize open-source software, people are using Matrix to mask their identity and protect themselves; such as journalists, whistleblowers, and private investigators. Matrix provides secure E2EE, and it’s rather safe. Just… don’t use the official Matrix.org homeserver. It’s frequently blocked from joining foreign rooms due to their high volume of spam accounts. Unredacted is a great homeserver to use.

Signal [Link]

Signal is one of the best choices here. It’s a gold standard in the industry, especially since it’s been heavily audited and uses strong cryptographic protocols to ensure message data is safe and protected; regardless of whether the relay server has been intercepted or not.

Unlike WhatsApp, which is owned by a megacorporation that prioritizes grabbing every bit of data it can reach, Signal retains practically nothing. The government subpoenaed them, and all they could physically hand over was: When an account was created and the last time an account connected. That’s it. It’s also backed by a non-profit foundation, meaning they don’t have investors to please.

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So, What’s the Move?

If you want a drop-in Discord clone so your (fake) friends don’t leave? Fluxer.

If you want something for your mother and your everyday group chats? Signal.

If you want to host an actual community and don’t trust Discord? Matrix, or Fluxer.

If you think modern technology sucks ass? IRC.

If the feds are outside your window right now? SimpleX. Or just give in, they’re literally outside.

The hardest part about leaving Discord isn’t finding software that works, it’s convincing your friends to care about their own privacy for more than five fucking seconds. Start small, and stop letting a gaming app control what you send. That’s why laws exist, but sadly, they’re not strong enough. See you in the next one.