The Wall Street Journal reported that Meta plans to move to a "Pay for your Rights" model, where EU users will have to pay $ 168 a year (€ 160 a year) if they don't agree to give up their fundamental right to privacy on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. History has shown that Meta's regulator, the Irish DPC, is likely to agree to any way that Meta can bypass the GDPR. However, the company may also be able to use six words from a recent Court of Justice (CJEU) ruling to support its approach.
Just to give the full context regarding my opinion: I do live in an EU country in which WhatsApp is the default messaging app and Instagram is where people my age and younger use to keep in touch with their social circle.
It's been how you've said. A lot of people I cannot easily reach out. I've managed not to be completely isolated through Telegram.
People I'm really close to me have been kind enough to meet me there. Even some collegues from my previous work. Every time I've gone out with them, we've talked there.
Now I'm in very few family/friends chat groups (the ones I'm in, I actually care about). There's less distractions and notifications. So at least that have been an advantage.
Edit 1: Some typos and grammar mistakes.
Edit 2: Also, I can't say there's no ocasional friction regarding not using Meta. As you said, I'd be amazing if they had interoperability with other messaging services without tracking me. Things would be a lot easier for me.
let's not pretend that Telegram is any better than using WhatsApp.
True in the sense that Telegram is not a real privacy-respecting alternative. So, it's a good thing to point out.
My reasons for leaving Meta are more anti-Meta than anything else. For those who have succeeded at using something really private, my respects. I just not had any good alternative without being cut off society.
If I thought there was no difference between Telegram and WhatsApp, I'd have kept using WhatsApp. But yeah, it's not good option anyway. Just good-enough compromise for me to leave Meta.