WhatsApp and most alternatives share the same problem
I really sympathise with this point of view, but when it comes to messaging with family and friends, I just don't really care. Matrix seems to want to be an IRC replacement rather than a one-to-one / small-group chat app. That's fine, but often not what I want.<p>Teaching my mother in law to use Signal:<p>Install. Accept permissions. Choose a PIN. I can send you messages. You can see your friends who already use Signal. Well done!<p>Matrix:<p>When you start you will get to choose from [matrix.org], swirly symbol "element matrix services" (the biggest and middle option, but not the one you want), or other.<p>Choose matrix.org (nothing else, or we will get very confused). Then click "sign up". Then enter a username and password (need a username which no-one has used before, you can't use your email address. Make sure to remember it).<p>Oh, but do put your email address in the next page, which is how people in practice are going to find you.<p>Bonus feature: How do you join a room? Click on it. How do you leave? Maybe long-press the room name, or swipe? Nope, you enter the room, click on the triple dots, settings, scroll down, leave room.<p>Bonus feature 2: Once you join a popular room, all users of that room are added to "Known users", making the list completely without value. How do I actually find people I know?