Welcome to the latest episode of my blog series Breaking Up with Big Tech. This one is more of a coda because I have already completed all the major steps from the initial post. That victory was delicious, but now I feel like Bloat at the end of Finding Nemo. The gang has triumphantly returned to the ocean, only for Bloat to ask, “Now what?”
Big Tech does not remain bested. It’s an ongoing struggle to protect our privacy, security, and sanity. These companies will always find new ways to harvest our data, undermine our safety, and create new dependencies. The solutions of today will be liabilities tomorrow, so we have to stay on top of the game.
Thus, in an effort to future-proof our sanity, here are five tips to help us going forward.
Never Discard Devices
Big Tech has created a sad paradigm where technology is disposable. Devices like laptops and phones are no longer built to last. They are designed to fail after limited periods (a nefarious practice called Planned Obsolescence). But here’s the thing: your devices are fine, and Big Tech knows they are fine. They release updates that throttle usability, which forces users to buy new versions that are nearly identical to the old ones.
This is why Linux is having a major renaissance. One of its hallmarks is the ability to breathe new life into old computers. There is nothing wrong with that old laptop in your closet. It runs fine, but Microsoft and Apple gaslight users into thinking otherwise so they can sell upgrades. Do not get rid of it. Just revive it with Linux and voila! Brand-new laptop.
Same goes with old phones. Don’t get rid of them, just install a privacy-focused OS that strips Big Tech of its throttling power. GrapheneOS is the obvious choice (if you have a Pixel), but you can also use LineageOS or /e/OS. (And no, iOS is not a viable alternative. Apple is just as bad as Google. They just have better PR.)
Only Purchase Things You Can Touch
One of the best ways to protect your consumer rights is the ability to touch what you own. Streaming and digital purchases may be convenient (when they aren’t serving ads every two seconds), but there is no substitute for holding a physical copy of a game or movie. It’s yours forever, so long as you don’t break it.
Big Tech has created a digital landscape where they can take anything away from you at any moment for any reason. You don’t own jack squat. You simply paid for a temporary license. Nowadays, studios are writing off entire IPs for tax breaks, which means that media can be erased forever. It can’t be streamed, played, or purchased in any form. If you didn’t already own a physical copy, then you’re out of luck.
This is why I strongly recommend physical media. Streaming is wholly dependent on a good internet connection, a decent media service, and studio permission. And even then you have to deal with apps and ads. But if you have a physical player and a physical disc, then there is nothing stopping you from enjoying that entertainment whenever you please.
Avoid Dependencies
Back in the early days of the tech revolution, there were numerous companies competing for the same users. In other words, we had choice. But as a few companies grew big enough to devour their competition, that choice was taken away. Now we have a handful of software suites that are considered “standards” in their domains.
That was tolerable when the software was still great, but then companies realized that they can ditch innovation and profit off dependency. They raise prices for unwanted changes that force users to adapt or die. “Don’t want AI shoehorned into your word processor? Too bad. You need the software and we know you need it, so pay up.”
Big Tech abandoned its founding principles to extract as much money as possible. This has created a massive wave of user resentment, along with several new competitors that value function over profit. Users are sick of the proprietary software model and are fleeing to the FOSS model (free and open-source). This is how we break dependencies.
The big ones for me were Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. I thought I was bound to them for publishing, but I fully replaced them with LibreOffice and Canva Affinity. Standard does not mean necessary.
Maximize Digital Value
As much as I hate streaming, I admit that it’s difficult to avoid. I love to watch the Premier League, which means that I am bound to a subscription for part of the year. Every season, I make it a point to know who has the broadcasting rights and where I can find access for the cheapest price. And the second the season ends, I cancel the service.
Streaming services are masters of FOMO. Ask yourself, do you need a subscription to watch a show over a 6-month release period, or can you wait until the show ends and subscribe for a single month? Or better yet, can you avoid it altogether and wait for the physical media? Even it you buy new, you’ll save a ton on a lifetime of re-watches.
If you have to subscribe, make it deliberate. Create a spreadsheet, track your subs, and set a monthly reminder to review them. Maximize the value because those monthly and annual fees can add up quick. Always remember that subscription services want you to forget about them. They make a ton of money off complacency, so don’t give it to them.
Protect Your Data at All Costs
In today’s hyper-online world, nothing is more valuable than personal data. This is the bread and butter of Surveillance Capitalism. The more a company knows about you, the more they can charge. Virtual shopping has become a goldmine for corporations who harvest personal data. The price you see online is not the price everyone pays. It’s the price you pay.
This is where things like VPNs and private browsers come into play. Want to see something truly infuriating? Open two web browsers on two different computers, one with a Big Tech browser, and the other using a VPN and Tor. Go to the same shopping website and add the same items to the cart. This is when most privacy advocates get radicalized.
Online privacy is not a “nice to have.” It’s a critical barrier between yourself and a predatory system that wants to extract as much money as possible. You can deny them this cheat code by getting off social media, using private search, avoiding tech behemoths, shunning AI, and embracing physical media. Big Tech needs our data to survive. It’s the sustenance that keeps them afloat. Starve them of it.
Not-So-Final Thoughts
Protecting our digital lives is an ongoing effort. Big Tech is notorious for breaking rules at lightning speeds, so we have to stay vigilant. They tout it as innovation, but we know better. These companies are long past creating a brighter future. All they want is money, power, and influence, and it’s up to us to deny them.
I hope these tips will help you along that path. It’s a rocky road filled with ghosts and goblins, but we have the means to advance. Go forth and conquer!
