These are different things. Signal is designed as a secure, more robust alternative to SMS/MMS.
IRC is not even close to filling that role. It’s not more robust nor more secure. At the same time it does several things that Signal doesn’t. Signal, as a messenger, is not a “chat room” or “social network” in the same way that IRC, Matrix, and even Telegram function. There are. I thousand member rooms you can join. It’s meant for secure, small group, communication.
Maybe that will change and they’ll broaden, but I would rather see them keep to their niche and do it well. I have no problem having one messenger app and another for “communities” of sorts.
IRC is not even close to filling that role. It’s not more robust nor more secure. At the same time it does several things that Signal doesn’t. Signal, as a messenger, is not a “chat room” or “social network” in the same way that IRC, Matrix, and even Telegram function. There are. I thousand member rooms you can join. It’s meant for secure, small group, communication.
Maybe that will change and they’ll broaden, but I would rather see them keep to their niche and do it well. I have no problem having one messenger app and another for “communities” of sorts.