I have been on a campaign to have family members get off of Facebook for a variety of great reasons. But one of my family members says, “But I love keeping in touch with long lost friends” Is there a solution to this? I get it, sometimes you have to cut something out just because you should. But there are a ton of people who are going to stay on Facebook to stay in touch. And continually telling them the negatives doesn’t work. If they have something to replace it, I think you could get a mass exodus. Is it another “big tech” like platform? My brother mentioned the idea that we need to be more intentional, shift our thinking to where we get rid of the platforms and actually call or write a letter to a long lost friend. It appears to be, in my world at least, age related, older folks seem to not want to give it up but young folks are more than happy to dump it. Any ideas?
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8 replies on “Dump Big Tech, Then What?”
I’m not any of the alternative platforms, but the one I’ve been following from a technology perspective for a while is Gab, because it’s actually decentralized – you own your own content, and it’s just about who hosts it. I’ve been following it from a technology perspective because it comes out of the linux/GNU/free and open source software community.
My wife, the one whom utilizes FB (gag). She has also joined the MeWe system, the issue seems to be getting them to completely leave/delete the FB.
FB, like most modern electronic tech is addictive. An addict will lie, cheat, steal, and generally convince themselves that their “fix” is deserved and isn’t really hurting anyone. Most, if not all people have addictions, even if it is just to caffeine.
FB needs to be treated much like an unwanted addiction, and maybe even having some support groups might help. This sounds silly, but addictions are tough and invasive. Admitting the addiction, is the first step in beating it.
This applies to all the mass social network media and smart phone gratification societal self destructive activities.
I’ve been told that MeWe is a good Fbk alternative, too. I join all the social media sites that pop up so that I get the user name I want, but then may not use them. I never completed my Fbk profile, because even what…10 years ago? I thought they were too nosy.
I do feel like I am dealing with addicts. That is the most insidious part of all this social media nonsense, they take advantage of people’s desire to connect and weaponize it against them. The more I have considered the issues, I think being more intentional is a good path to walk. Think of it this way, do you want 900 shallow connections or 10 very deep and more local (physically near you) connections. We need to be more intentional about those deeper relationships.
MeWe is apparently the best (privacy-focused) Facebook alternative. I’ve heard from people who made the switch that they actually like the user interface a lot better, too. They’re getting large enough numbers that you’re pretty likely to bump into someone you know.
For some reason I though MeWe was some ChiCom software. I looked it up and stand corrected.
I left Facebook about 2 weeks ago. My one regret is I should have given my friends some avenue to reach but i didn’t. Email may be the new “snail-mail” in our ever “now now now” world, but true friends could and should be able to send an email with contacts.
As for those who want to stay on FB, let them know that many privacy experts regard FB as the premier “evil” host for selling info. I will post one such person: Rob Braxman …. he has been warning of the Big Tech – Big Brother connection: https://youtu.be/YAZurGCfZgk
I have watched a few of Rob’s videos and they are sensible and most of it easy enough to understand.
He says FB is the #1 thing we should delete because of its invasiveness. Tracking you way past FB platform and selling your personal info. to the highest bidder.
As I tell people all the time, free is never free.