So I got the message from instagram about either paying or using it free (at the cost personalised ads) just now.
Doesn’t this go against the GDPR? Either way, is there a FOSS alternative for instagram like piped is to youtube? It seems like a good opportunity to stop using the official app, even though it would be better to not use instagram at all (sadly not an option for me right now).
Any suggestions, and if so, are there any that provide functionality for: stories, posts, dms? Those are the 3 things I use instagram for.
Many thanks!
Edit: For messaging I do use beeper, though some media like carousels and posts sent to my dms cant be shown in there, so for those cases I open the official app.
Edit 2: many people have suggested pixelfed. Ive heard of it, and want to use it, but unfortunately the only reason Im still sticking with instagram is because I have very dear friends who would never change to anything non-mainstream. Theyre important enough that im willing to not delete it just yet, but I dont want to agree to either pay or pay with my data.
What im looking for is more like a piped for youtube, thing. So a frintend that has instagram content/features, but isnt the main app and avoids the problems I listed above
Edit 3: I ended up installing the site as a PWA on my phone as thats the only device I use it on, and uninstalled the official app. Thanks to everyone for all your input!
A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
Some Rules
- Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn’t great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
- Don’t promote proprietary software
- Try to keep things on topic
- If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
- Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
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PWA
What’s that mean?
Progressive Web App.
Its like “installing” a website to your phone kinda. Usually if you open the menu on your mobile browser, if the site supports it there will be an option to install the site to your phone as a web app.
Choose wisely.
Wouldn’t they just skirt the technicalities with just showing targeted sponsorships anyways?
It seems like a nice idea that they offer a paid option for an ad free internet
Still a privacy nightmare, with and without ads.
Hermit app make PWAs a realistic alternative
Seems like a very interesting app. Is it open source by any chance?
No idea, didn’t really care.
https://hermit.chimbori.com/help/
Im trying it out even though its closed source
Wait, so it’s either targeted ads or pay? Damn… Silly me thinking if you don’t pay you still could opt out of targeted ads.
But yeah, isn’t this against GDPR?
Nope, the GDPR allows data collection as long as the user explicits concents to it, and it doesn’t say services can’t be fee based. It’s not a workaround.
Better question is why is a privacy advocate using a platform owned by Meta in the first place.
Plus, although still stupid, you could simply connect from a US IP address, and since people that care about privacy already have VPNs, pretty trivial to do.
I’m certain it is. I sent an objection/data deletion request, and their “privacy info” pages are absolutely in violation of GDPR, because their forms are NOT reasonably accessible. I needed to use 3 separate mobile browsers and my desktop. When you finally get to the form, they ask some basic info, and the box where you’re supposed to make a request ends by asking something like “what rights do you believe are being violated, and why?”. The fucking gall on these cunts.
I planned on dropping some links, but they all have hard-coded non-functional redirects, which is intentional and absolutely infuriating. The redirects either just break like this one, which is suppose to be the one that contains a link to the form:
https://help.instagram.com/contact/117037592428568
Or they take you somewhere barely related, like this one which was the hidden start page for the form:
https://m.facebook.com/help/1221288724572426?wtsid=rdr_0bxiU4jakSVimlO8y
Or maybe it was this one? I can’t remember, because it doesn’t fucking take me to the page I saved the url for:
https://m.facebook.com/help/238318146535333?wtsid=rdr_0LKGtSJZTQyEH3R9N
Anyway, I’m mad if that’s not obvious. If you happen to find the form, you can try opting out. I haven’t heard back yet. Here’s the thorough and crystal fucking clear message I wrote, feel free to copy/share it:
deleted by creator
Pixelfed for true alternative PWA works Instander exists
removed by mod
Is there an open source alternative?
removed by mod
There’s proxygram which is still a work in progress, but it’s already looking pretty good for now imo
I setup my own pixelfed instance to share pictures of my kids and family. I own and control all the data on my server and no one gets to monetize pictures of my children.
Not many of my family members are on there but I still prefer it to Instagram
The fact that the ad revenue button is more emphasized and easier to press (closer to screen edge) says a lot about the value of you being their product vs. you simply paying them for access.
You can still use Instagram on your browser, without being shown the banner. Works for me with Firefox on Android.
If you do decide to opt for the subscription (I hope you don’t) do it from your desktop browser since it costs 10€ instead of 12.99€. I haven’t tried it myself, but that’s what I read on a German website.
I still need to use the app to stay in touch with some friends and to get updates from smaller organizations that do not have a Web presence or newsletter.
I uninstalled Instagram when I was shown the banner. Not out of principle but I simply don’t know which action would send the right signal. By continuing to use the app for free I would be sending the signal that I do not care about my privacy.
So do I pay for the subscription? I read somewhere elsewhere Meta makes more than that off me using targeted ads. So by subscribing do i still get to use the service and they make less money off me? There’s no guarantee they honor the no tracking even if I pay.
So I’ve just uninstalled the app for now.
Are there any VPN shenanigans one could try to make it cheaper?
Shenanigans? No. Simply connecting from a US or not EU IP, pretty damn simple.
Thanks for this reply. Ive installed the site as a PWA and uninstalled the official app. Theres no way I’m either paying or giving them consent for personalised ads.
The fact is, they didn’t say they won’t collect data on you, they just won’t use it for ads
Exactly. Best to uninstall and deactivate and stop using it.
I didnt see it mentioned but, Ive been using Instander for some time. Its been great!
You need to make a choice, Mr Anderson…
Loving the username and matrix reference :)
Im reading 1984 right now, i like it so far.
It’s good, and after that, check out Brave New World which is similar to what we have now. :)
And Fahrenheit 451, another classic
It’s so interesting because realistically we’re a hybrid of both but damn did they both have a good whack at hitting the nail on the head.
Either way it’s a sad reflection of the world we now live in, all self anesthesized and false truths.
The sane choice would be to leave.