hey so i thought i'd add to this post with some info about what kind of switches i've made or intend to make to stop using tech that overenshittified, became evil, etc.Â
(idk if anyone will see this addition so i'll probably make this its own post later)
kanopy - available through public libraries and universities. check if yours has it. if not, ask them what they do have for streaming, and/or ask if they can look into joining kanopy!
internet archive - have a look around. there are tonnes of good classic film options! i have some good stuff bookmarked, hmu if you want links
also yeah, do go to your local cinema! 📽️🍿
Replace: Audible/Amazon eBooks
available through public libraries:
freely available to anyone:
project gutenberg - the GOAT!!! (plus its aussie sister site gutenberg.net.au, which has books that are still under copyright in the u.s., as well as a wealth of australiana, australian history, and australian records)
faded page - same idea as PG. this one is canadian so this is where you can source public domain canadiana and canadian history.
librivox - the audiobook version of PG (free public domain audiobooks read by volunteers). it's a great concept, but be forewarned that the app's interface is really, truly awful.
there are a lot of lists out there, like this post i recently reblogged, so the good news is you have lots of options! remember that google still makes most of its $ from its search function, so making the switch is absolutely worth it even if you still use their other services.
anyway, the post i linked goes way more in-depth, but here are a few i've tried and liked:
4get - i intended to try this one but forgot, adding it because i think it'll be good
mojeek - it's like using google from 2005 (/pos)
marginalia search - find older, text-heavy websites, with commercial content filtered out.
i think we all know this one but just in case...
firefox, with ublock origin installed
Replace: Google Suite (Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, etc.)
proton - it has mail, docs, sheets, storage, etc. see if you can share a plan with someone or join with your family because there are two-person and family plans that are more affordable.
otherwise, you can split it up and use multiple services, e.g. tuta for email, sync for storage, ellipsus for docs, etc.Â
your public transport org's website/app
Replace: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, etc.
"but how will i stay in touch with my friends?"
talk to your friends. message them and say, "here's my email address, here's my phone number, here's my mailing address, what's yours? i'm leaving the app and i'd like to stay in touch." then, do that. make sure to reach out to them and invite them to hang out or just start a conversation using one of the above methods.
"how will i find out about what's going on near me?"
genuinely, read posters on lampposts and community billboards.Â
see if your city/area has a website that shows upcoming events and keep an eye on it.Â
find orgs/venues/galleries/theatres near you that do cool stuff and sign up for their mailing lists.Â
ask people for recommendations.
go for a walk through an interesting neighbourhood. have a look around.
"but i need more human connection! i like feeling connected to people i don't know, too, and hearing all kinds of different perspectives."
postcrossing!!! i love it so much! send and receive postcards to and from different people around the world đź’Ś
get a penpal! there are different penpal finding websites and subreddits out there.
tandem for language exchange
"what about facebook groups?"
i get it, if you're already in a group you want to participate in it's a bit tough because you don't want to ask the group to relocate just for you. but fwiw, meetup and butter provide similar functions.Â
"what about facebook marketplace?"
whatever website equivalent exists in your area (kijiji, gumtree, etc.)
this is a switch i haven't made yet. but from what i've heard, qobuz or deezer are good streaming alternatives.
support artists by purchasing music through bandcamp
also support artists by buying merch from their websites.
storygraph - i think it's pretty well-known, but just in case!
signal - even if you can only convince a couple people to move over and you still talk to other people on what's app, that's still a couple more conversations zuckerberg doesn't have his grubby little hands on. also, the more people make the switch, the more people will follow.
i don't know of any good substitutes. please share if you do!! my best solution atm is turn on ad blocker and use it as little as possible.
Replace: General mindless scrolling
download one of the aforementioned ebook apps (libby, borrowbox, cloudlibrary, or else open up project gutenberg if you can't get those) and take out an ebook.
when you find yourself scrolling endlessly on some social media app and you realise you want to stop but you just can't seem to get off your phone, switch over to your ebook app and read instead. (this will work best if you choose light but interesting ebooks that won't feel like a massive cerebral leap from passive media consumption).
even if it's just a couple of pages, it'll feel more productive and break the cycle of endless scrolling.
it's a marathon, not a sprint. don't try to switch a bunch of stuff at once or you're setting yourself up to fail. take it one small step at a time. build new habits. figure out what works for you. i'm currently about two months into transitioning off of gmail/google suite and i've still got a while to go. i have over a decade's worth of files and photos to transfer over, and god knows how many accounts and contacts linked to my gmail. that switch doesn't happen overnight. you just gotta start and it takes as long as it takes. but the payoff is regaining control over your data, mental health, and spare time✌️
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