The more I use #Matrix, the more I'm puzzled why it isn't mainstream just yet. It can literally take the place of anything - any messaging/phone call/video call apps like #WhatsApp or #Telegram, group chats (even with screensharing) like #Discord, #Teamspeak, #Slack, or #Teams - all of that and it might even be more secure (or private) than something like #Signal since you don't even need a phone number to sign up. All you need to do to get on board is to register an account on an instance (of which you could even stand one up yourself), and use the service on a good app - #Element and #ElementX seem to be the best on desktop and mobile respectively. If you don't fancy installing an app, you could even use it on the web - something you couldn't even do on Signal.

I like it so much, and I think it should be mainstream so much, that I had just updated my resume to replace my phone number with a Matrix link instead lol - and I feel much better not having my (work) number displayed in public. Idk if that'd be an issue (i.e. for a recruiter), but meh, the link even takes you to a pretty portal (stood up by the Matrix instance) that tells the reader how to reach me (i.e. app options they could launch/install, etc.). All in all, I'm so, so, so SORRY for thinking Matrix is just what #FOSS/#Linux nerds use to be different (to be private, really) when really, it's just a really cool communication protocol/service EVERYONE should use - not freakin' WhatsApp or #iMessage (I see you, Americans).