So generally I believe that Apple respects privacy more than google overall.
That doesn’t mean Apple is some privacy beacon.
But I have never had Apple randomly turn a setting on my phone on. Google got caught redhanded doing that. I had been using android for years until that incident.
Apple I buy my phone. Google I am the product.
Why did google implement XMPP originally for Google Chat? They originally did federate with XMPP servers. But eventually, they decided that federating wasn’t worth it. At the time they still used XMPP, they just refused to federate.
Why wouldn’t you use ActivityPub as a protocol if it has been proven out and does 90% of what you need? Just because they use ActivityPub, I don’t see them ever Federating in any meaningful way. Essentially, I think the protocol is well designed and Meta is just using it as their starting point with no reason to share any data with the fediverse.
If he is interested in game development, I recommend buying a couple Udemy courses on Unreal Engine development.
You will need to make sure your MacBook is powerful enough to run the unreal engine development IDE.
But if it is, he will be able. To quickly put something things together and see the results.
My son(9 years old at the time) put together a small game over a summer via a udemy course and unreal engine.