Yesterday, I deleted my apps for CBC, CTV, FOX, Facebook, Twitter and many others. I disabled all of my built in apps, browsers etc. and replaced them with alternatives.
My goal is, 1 by 1, to eliminate all methods of huge passive income and meta data collection that mega corporations and governments can use.
I have also been narrowing down replacements for my OS's, Email, Web Hosting, Office Suite, PDF, Accounting etc.
My goal is, 1 by 1, to eliminate all interactions with Micosoft, Google, Apple and any other mega monopoly company.
In the past 8 months, I have changed from majority grocery to majority local, use more cash, refuse to use ATM'S at Banks or Stores. I cut up half of my "loyalty" tracking cards.
My phone and laptop, which is required for work, will be the hardest to modify but it can be done.
As long as money can be made from us in these ways, they have all of the power.
What you Buy and Use Matters.
I don't get this all or nothing polarization. You used all these stupid things and then one day decided to delete them all? Why not just get rid of unnecessary shit.
Like why would have all those apps installed? I go to their website if I want to look. But I get most of my news from reddit or here or friends anyways.
I have always used firefox and I used tracker blocking addons, and adblock so I never see ads anyways.
Apple I have no interaction with because I have always disliked their restrictive and controlling world. Google, I use gmail and calendar. Google search is censored and biased these days, I prefer duckduckgo or Bing even.
So you use cash but don't use ATMs? Does your money come from your money printer at home or what?
Loyalty cards I don't use when I buy anything I don't want to be tracked.. pretty simple. They give you free money back on purchases.. why not use it otherwise. So they know what shampoo I use... wow big deal.
You don't use credit cards so you don't get purchase protection and more money back.
It is hardly all or nothing. I've adequately explained why I am doing it and you are free to do as you wish.
I had those apps installed for convenience. In the past I took measures as you described. I now want nothing to do with any mega Corp. I no longer think that it is worth the price.
Replacing tech with tech and altering habits is hardly polarizing. It is consumer choice.
I don't know if you noticed but the world has radically polarized to even higher levels lately and that is due to the above mentioned companies activities.
My very old ipod and iTunes have finally become more hassle than it is worth. I own nothing else that is apple.
I go to a teller at the bank as much as I can. I go to a teller at a store as much as I can. How is that hard to comprehend.
Loyalty cards are not free. It is a trade and I no longer feel the trade is of value for most of them, not all.
Credit cards are a debt and tracking trap. Use them at your own risk.
All of which you are free to do or don't do as you see fit.
It is hard to comprehend.. is your assumption that the bank doesn't keep record of your withdrawal activity if you go to a teller? lol. If anything it is more invasive as you have the teller who is staring at your personal details and balance on the computer in front of them.
Tracking yes, debt no if you are a responsible person that pays off the balance every month and just uses them for their huge benefits.
Yes they do. I am only "limiting" detailed spending records of everything and everywhere I go (I dont need to provide that information for free) and actively trying to slow the elimination of jobs.
Not everyone who ends up in bankruptcy arrived there because they were not responsible. Shit happens. I have never had to claim bankruptcy but I have watched other people lose everything and survive off a credit card and take years to recover.
I am only looking at better options for myself. All of it is "choice".
Example; My reason for switching from Micosoft based systems is it has become unbearable to maintain. Fiscally it is more time consuming than it is cost effective to maintain.
All I am saying is to weigh what you are trading and evaluate the worth of what you receive in that trade.