This instance hasn't been updated to version 0.18 yet, don't know if its related or not. Can't use jerboa with this instance either because of that.

Ankylosaurus

Great minds think alike

You need to disable the setting to "open web pages in the app", you can find it in the general section in the Google feed settings. If your default browser is not chrome, it should open in that browser.

I'm pretty sure the stock SMS app that comes with your phone also needs access to the contacts permissions, but is enabled by default, so the app doesn't even ask for it.

But they don't have hands