This one is going to have to go in my rant folder that I created specifically for this topic. I know I typically trend to talking about food allergies or intolerances but today is different.
I’ve been on some form of social media for most of my life. In fact, I have been using social media since Myspace began in 2003 which means I’m well over my 20-year mark of using this in my life. This year I’ve been experiencing what I can only refer to as social media burnout.
I feel exhausted ALL of the time. I’m tired of the internet. But most of all, I’m tired of seeing misinformation everywhere I look. It’s draining. I don’t get the dopamine rush that people talk about when they watch TikTok videos for hours. In fact, I feel like in reality there has to be something wrong with me because of this. I’m the problem.
While, I’m well aware that AI is the future of the world. I don’t get why we would want AI systems to replace things we like to do like create art, capture photography, and write stories and poetry?
You know what I want AI to do?
I want it to do my laundry and dishes: not steal my ability to create art.
Apple, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI are all under scrutiny from federal regulators for antitrust and privacy violations. They also helped support the new administration’s agenda with large payouts and policy changes, and they have harmed workers, consumers, and small-business competitors in pursuit of the all mighty dollar.
So why should we continue to give them our hard-earned money?
I’m going to reveal my 4 step plan to try to help keep my digital identity my own and protect myself against corporate overreach having access to everything.
1. Ditch Social Media Platforms Owned by Big Tech Companies Like Meta
This one has been hard for me.
When Elon Musk purchased Twitter I was able to cut ties with the platform pretty easily. I knew his background enough then to know that him laying off a large percentage of Twitter staff was inherently wrong. Plus, throw in the fact that 57 percent of them were women to only 47 percent of them being men and I really just couldn’t support it and so I deleted Twitter (X).
Now, I was going to delete Facebook in October 2024 but this one came with a great pause. Facebook informed me that if I deleted my account, I would also have to delete a private group I started on this account.
This seems unfair, why should I or Facebook be allowed to punish a community that was created and intended for users to have access on how to navigate a disease like CSID? Especially when there are already so few resources on the internet and many specialists have never worked with patients that have the disease. I want to delete my personal social media account only to discover that the account is attached to a whole community built for patients and sometimes specialists to ask questions and garner information? I still am looking for someone to be admin for the page so I can leave Facebook but I also don’t want to leave without finding the right person.
I’ve slowly been building up a community on Bluesky, Mastodon, and Pixelfed as alternatives to my other social media accounts. One thing I really notice with these social media accounts is things are so much easier. There aren’t ads, I can choose what hashtags and who to follow, and it feels like the amount of misinformation spread on these platforms isn’t as far-reaching. I don’t have as big of a following but honestly I think I’m okay with that.
Another thing we don’t think about is when we’re getting hired for a new position. What’s the first place a company looks to when deciding between candidates? The answer is always social media and if your digital identity doesn’t align with the company’s identity then you can guarantee they will offer it to the person that will fit.
2. Delete Email Accounts Associated with Google | In Fact, Maybe Just Delete Google
You’ll probably laugh at me on this but I never realized how many accounts I have that are actually tied in with Google.
I’m the first to admit that I’m lazy and instead of creating a brand new account for something, I will happily just attach my Google account to it.
I actually never thought I’d be ditching Google.
Oh, and guess what to garner information on 3rd party accessibility you have to do a whole lot of steps. It’s a literal 7-step process to figure out what 3rd party accounts are connected. I currently have 44 programs connected to Google.
I’ve had a few friends switch over to more secure email accounts like ProtonMail and TutaMail. I’m actually looking at ProtonMail because of the student discount. Both of these services do have fees associated with them but also I’m willing to pay for an email account if it means I can have some sense of privacy. The reason so many of us opt for Gmail is because it doesn’t cost anything. Google’s privacy concerns aren’t anything new. In 2007, Privacy International ranked Google as “Hostile to Privacy”, its lowest rating on their report, making Google the only company in the list to receive that ranking.
In their report they also stated, “Market domination by a handful of key players will ensure that without care, a race to the bottom will evolve during the immediate future.”
When I think about it this was in 2007… we’re now at the beginning of 2025 and very much experiencing what was foretold then. In case you’re wondering PI is still around and going strong.
If you want to protect your digital identity steer away from Google. They own Google Maps, GMail, Google Search Engine, Fitbit, Waze, and their parent company is Alphabet who owns Mandiant (cybersecurity), Youtube, Looker and around 256 other companies specializing in artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and more.
I’ve switched over to mostly using Proton Mail and the other things ran by https://proton.me/
3. Ditch Reliance on Easy Solutions Like Amazon
I ended my Amazon Prime account this week after having one for a really long time. I realized I leaned heavily on the account when in reality I just didn’t need one. I don’t really use the video streaming content and I stopped using the book section of it to go to my local library instead.
Amazon preys on our ability to go and find time to shop for things we might want or need. They put our options right in front of us and even price it somewhat accordingly. But the treatment of their workers is abysmal and the more things that I read about unfair workplace conditions and low wages for demanding and very physical work the more I realize I don’t want Jeff Bezos to have more money until he gives a little back to the people who really deserve it.
The only place where our voice matters is in our wallets.
If you feel strongly about DEI policies then look into companies that are still going to follow those. The people trying to take away these policies don’t realize that they’ve been around since the mid-1960s and the trainings really began in the 1980s and 1990s. They aren’t anything new. They allow equality for all in the workplace but it doesn’t take away the fact that promotions still must be earned through hard work and merit. If nepotism and cronyism isn’t at play.
Check your more local mom and pop shops and smaller regional chains. Look for thing like being employee-owned. I’m lucky enough to live next to a few really great options:
JAX Outdoor Gear, Farm, & Ranch
I also started following this subreddit and while there’s a whole spectrum of “anti-consumerism”, you can probably find something that resonates with you. I’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time.
4. Go Outside and Get Involved in Your Local Community
Beyond the screen and our addiction to technology is an entire world just waiting to be explored. There are clubs and meetings on every topic and hobby imaginable and some of those might be duds but you might really resonate if you go and try one out.
There is no better way to no what is going on in the world than to go and talk to people within your local community. I’ve started just going to town council meetings to show my face and learn a little bit more about the inner workings of local government. That option might not be for everyone but I enjoy it and it makes me feel connected to both local happenings and local people and businesses.
Check out Meetup, there are events that happen both in-person and online.
Our local government page has a local events calendar that also includes meetings and business events. I’ll sometimes add things I’m interested in from there to my own calendar to try to check out.
One of my absolute favorite things to do is to just go outside and go for a hike. I’m lucky enough to live in Colorado where the potential for this is pretty limitless and there are lots of trails for different skill levels. I also recently got into birding and love doing that when the weather warms up.
I’m wishing you all a warm and healthy weekend! ❤
Sugar and Starch Free, No Problem 
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