I’ve started missing out on events just because I am not in the group chats my friends are having on there. That is where I draw my limit. I need to start using Messenger.
However I still wish to use Messenger with as much privacy as possible. I am looking for any advice that might improve my experience and lessen any privacy impact.
I will be creating a fresh account that will just have a picture of me and my first name.
I am running iodeOS (Google-free Android ROM with built in ad-block) on my phone and I am very happy with it so far. I will be blocking messengers outgoing requests as much as possible while still retaining base functionality, but I’m not sure how much that will help.
How do I best use Messenger on Android from a privacy perspective?
Short answer: you don’t. It’s either privacy or a facebook app, not both.
Longer answer: Don’t use the facebook app https://github.com/mautrix/facebook (requires your own Matrix homeserver)
It is much more complicated to host a Matrix homeserver and Facebook Messenger bridge, however, it allows you to use a FOSS chat app on your Android phone. With notifications and if needed, fully outside google infrastructure, or even fully selfhosted, with ntfy.sh for example. Without running any proprietary Facebook code, and without directly connecting to Facebook servers on your Android device.
It is of course unavoidable to have complete privacy, as your messages will still be sent to Facebook, but you avoid almost all telemetry (and all on-device telemetry) by using a Matrix bridge rather than the official website/app.
Another option is Beeper, although privacy with them is questionable, since you’re fully trusting them with your account, and any incoming/outgoing messages. It does avoid Facebook telemetry on device, and is much easier than hosting a Matrix homeserver.