Everything I do is either a Whatsapp group or a Telegram group these days. Whatsapp is owned by Meta but is at least encrypted, private and free from the bullshit of a real social media. Telegram is a better alternative if you really want to leave Meta behind. People will suggest Signal but in my experience literally nobody uses it except radical organisers. I have only one group on there and its for a protest group. Nobody else ever even messages me on there.
I've managed to persuade some people and groups to use Signal. If I could find a way to use Whatsapp without Meta being able to identify me via my phone number and ransack my contacts then I would, reluctantly, give it a go.