I’m one of those oddballs who’s never joined, but I’m in the market for a new to me bike, and it seems like all the action is on marketplace. Am I screwed, or is there an effective workaround ?

Edit: Not US. There are local alternatives that I know about, but they are worse, please answer question as asked ! Basically I’m thinking of alternative software ala FreeTube, or a way of spoofing facebook to make a dummy account only to be used for this and if so what precautions to take…

  • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2·
    4 months ago

    Would a virtual machine work for this? Set up a minimal Linux distro with a browser and set the browser to delete cookies on exit, then only use it for Facebook. VMs are not perfectly secure, as I understand it, but I can’t see Facebook tunnelling its way out of one.

    • MalReynolds@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      Certainly wouldn’t hurt, tunnel out via vpn to swaziland or whatever. I’m still going to be searching locally, but if all they know is I’m looking for bikes and hopefully don’t link it to my shadow profile, I can probably live with that. Still, don’t they require ID and phone number and shit these days ? IDK, I really don’t follow them.

      • Tippon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        1·
        4 months ago

        Still, don’t they require ID and phone number and shit these days ?

        I’ve got no idea. I haven’t had to do either, but I’ve had my account for years, and pretty much only use it to keep track of birthdays.

        I’ve used marketplace a few times for buying and haven’t had to add any extra info, it just connects me with the seller through Messenger. I’m in the UK if that makes any difference.