Surveillance big-tech is creepily, surreptitiously and super-effectively taking over our phones, computers... and attention. You've probably felt it, and are probably uneasy about it.
What to do? Well, at the very least, use something like NextDNS 24/7 and have a VPN (I use NordVPN) for when you need it.
But what are the alternatives for our email, social media and instant messaging, alternatives that mean we don't have to use Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc?
Email is close already - by design it is decentralised, running on a protocol that means we can send emails to and from any properly configured email client. So how the hell do you monetise that, then, if you're a web giant? By machine reading people's emails and offering them ads based on what you find, to start with. And that's called Gmail etc. Solution? Avoid free big tech email. If you're not paying for it, you're definitely the product. For a one-stop, privacy-optimised solution, I recommend Hey It's $99/year.
What about instant messaging? Signal is probably the best - open-source, apparently even runs on the same system as WhatsApp so instantly familiar, but no big tech snooping, privacy more or less guaranteed. WhatsApp may be "end to end encrypted", but as far as I can tell, it still knows who you're talking to, how often, where from, and when, etc etc. It just can't see what you say. Avoid it. Same goes for the ad-strewn Messenger. Remember, both are owned by and share info with big-tech Meta. So use Signal if you can (ie if you can get the important people in your life to also use it), and remember to contribute regularly towards its upkeep.
Social media? Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter are algorithm-based (optimised to keep you doom-scrolling, not to promote your welfare), full of targeted adverts, and ultimately sapping your spirit and energy. Social media controlled by single entities is fundamentally harmful. What if there was a "social media that is decentralised, running on an open protocol, with no big tech? There is - Mastodon. Open source, no ads, no algorithm, volunteer-led, de-centralised. Research it, sign up, close your other accounts. It's all the social media you need. And if you agree and hang around, contribute to its upkeep. (I'm there, https://mstdn.social/@philmorse).
We deserve better. We already have it if we're brave enough to make the leap.
What to do? Well, at the very least, use something like NextDNS 24/7 and have a VPN (I use NordVPN) for when you need it.
But what are the alternatives for our email, social media and instant messaging, alternatives that mean we don't have to use Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, etc?
Email is close already - by design it is decentralised, running on a protocol that means we can send emails to and from any properly configured email client. So how the hell do you monetise that, then, if you're a web giant? By machine reading people's emails and offering them ads based on what you find, to start with. And that's called Gmail etc. Solution? Avoid free big tech email. If you're not paying for it, you're definitely the product. For a one-stop, privacy-optimised solution, I recommend Hey It's $99/year.
What about instant messaging? Signal is probably the best - open-source, apparently even runs on the same system as WhatsApp so instantly familiar, but no big tech snooping, privacy more or less guaranteed. WhatsApp may be "end to end encrypted", but as far as I can tell, it still knows who you're talking to, how often, where from, and when, etc etc. It just can't see what you say. Avoid it. Same goes for the ad-strewn Messenger. Remember, both are owned by and share info with big-tech Meta. So use Signal if you can (ie if you can get the important people in your life to also use it), and remember to contribute regularly towards its upkeep.
Social media? Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter are algorithm-based (optimised to keep you doom-scrolling, not to promote your welfare), full of targeted adverts, and ultimately sapping your spirit and energy. Social media controlled by single entities is fundamentally harmful. What if there was a "social media that is decentralised, running on an open protocol, with no big tech? There is - Mastodon. Open source, no ads, no algorithm, volunteer-led, de-centralised. Research it, sign up, close your other accounts. It's all the social media you need. And if you agree and hang around, contribute to its upkeep. (I'm there, https://mstdn.social/@philmorse).
We deserve better. We already have it if we're brave enough to make the leap.