With a few exceptions, I try to avoid proprietary messaging services. For my routine non-urgent messages, I prefer email, especially if it contains an attachment or information that I might need to locate later on, such as an address, a receipt or a photograph. Aside from being universal, email is archivable. My Gmail account is like an enormous filing cabinet. I often go back and look for messages — sometimes years old — that contain information I need. Finding information in old text messages is almost always difficult and often impossible.
Using Messaging Apps
I sometimes use Facebook Messenger if I know how to find the person on Facebook but don’t have other contact information, but I usually ask them to respond by email because I often forget to look at incoming Facebook messages. The same is true for direct messages on X. I use WhatsApp with some of my overseas friends and contacts because it’s convenient having a single app that I can use for free calls, texts and video chats. And, unlike Facetime, it doesn’t matter what type of device they and I are using.
Challenges with Messaging Apps
Another problem I have with text messaging and messaging apps is that they’re mostly used on phones. Though there are ways to access texts and many other types of messages from a computer, I usually get them on my phone. That’s fine for reading and OK if I want to dash off a short response but, I’m not all that good at typing long messages on my phone. I learned to type on a keyboard when I was a kid and am very good at it so, if I have a choice, I’d rather respond from my PC if I have a lot to say. I’ve tried learning to type on my phone with two thumbs and, though I’ve gotten better at it, I still find it tedious and still make too many errors.
