Hi! My less-than-10-year-old has their own iPad (registered under my apple id) and wants to be able to “text” with the rest of the family. Most of us are not Apple people though: Android phones, using some combo of SMS, Discord, and Signal. The little one doesn’t have a phone, so I think that prevents us from signing them up for Signal. I could probably install Discord on the iPad, though it doesn’t feel ideal. They use iMessage (or whatever it’s called) to text a couple other friends/grandma/etc who also have Apple stuff, but what should we use for our mostly-non-Apple family that wouldn’t require a phone number?
An internet search pointed me to WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber… stuff I’ve never used but it seems popular. Facebook Messenger also, but screw that. Google Chat/Hangouts (or whatever it’s called now) is another option, which would require creating a google account.
If nothing else appeals to me we’ll probably go the Discord route, and I’ll just have to be clear, don’t join random servers :) But, anybody out there use WhatsApp with your kid, and does it not require a phone number? I’m open to other ideas! Thank you…
It is peer to peer, no need to register any number nor email and username isn’t mandatory.
Just install, configure and share QR codes to add your contacts.
oh this looks really interesting. Thanks! I’m seeing a lot of negative reviews, people saying the messages are sporadic and unreliable… Is this just a few squeaky wheels that leave reviews?
I don’t have an answer, but if Facebook messenger is out, then Whatsapp should be out as well. Same company.
oh I didn’t know that. Thanks!
You got a lot of good advice already. I just wanted to add: Do not share your Apple ID with someone. Always leads tk trouble, lost data and things that people see that shouldn’t have seen it.
If they are 10, use family sharing and create a Children Account for them. All the benefits, non of the issues.
Here’s how this works: https://www.apple.com/family-sharing/
Thanks! I followed your advice and set up the child account. Much better… and now the kid finally has an email address taboot. (icloud)
We just use Discord. My daughter is 11 and has been on Discord for a while and uses it to talk to her friends while they are all gaming together, and can use it on her computer, phone, and tablet so she doesn’t have to switch devices just to talk. Granted my daughter does have her own phone number, but she’ll still use discord for her group chats just because of its ease of use and the ability for her and her friends to jump on a call to mine some crafts or ro some blox or whatever it is kids do these days.
Right on, that would definitely be easiest because I use discord all the time. And yeah, this kid is all about the craft mining and blox ro-ing, often with a facetime in the background with their friend :) thanks for the vote!
Wasn’t Signal getting rid of the phone number requirement?
Not yet
Threema, best $6 eva
thank you… that’s a few people voting for threema, I’ll definitely check it.
Threema is awesome. They even have a Mastodon account: https://mastodon.social/@threemaapp
Here are the settings I recommend during app and account setup:
• Tap next instead of making a Threema Safe password, and Tap Yes, you really want to continue without enabling Threema Safe • Tap next instead of entering your phone number, and tap Yes to confirm you don’t want to enter your phone number • Turn off “Sync contacts”
Make sure to scan each other’s QR codes in person to get your three green dots.
Since you have to pay for the app, it’s less likely you’re the product.
Oh, and it’s not just messaging. Encrypted audio and video calls, too.
Signal, if you are looking for secure 1-1 and small-group chat & voice/video. Matrix if you are looking for community group chat stuff, like slack.
Telegram carries the risk of the kid stumbling into some really ugly communities on there.
I’d recommend Threema, but buying that for life costs as much as a cup of coffee, so hardly anyone can be convinced to use it.Honestly, I’d just use Teams to be honest.
interesting, Threema doesn’t look bad at all… I’ll consider it if none of the free options work great. Teams… I use that on my phone for my work M$ account, and it might be a pain to split it into my personal M$ account too… but if that’s easy, that’s a good idea. thank you!
In general and specifically for this use-case I would recommend Threema as well. No phone number requirement. No spam. Secure.
I’ve only come across this with a search so I’ve never used it https://www.kinzoo.com/kinzoo-messenger
looks promising, thanks! I’ll take a look.
I’ve been using Olvid for the past year or so. Works great!
nice, never heard of this, but looks good. I’ll definitely consider it. thanks!
If it is of interest, I actually decided to try Threema as a result of folks recommending it in this thread and like it a lot! Similar functionality to Olvid, but faster & more responsive.
Nice! ok thanks!
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Session.
Looks cool… a fork of Signal without the phone number requirement. I’ll consider it, thanks!
