I first made this account in an attempt to be more social online without an addictive algorithm overseeing that. Quick backstory, I usually buy my devices refurbished on Backmarket whenever it breaks. I don't upgrade unless it's broken. I dropped my phone recently and broke the SIM reader and charging port somehow. I dug out the "donut phone" for the time being. Instead of buying a newer refurbished phone, I'm going to get a Nokia 2780. Usually once you get a new phone, you can just log into Google/Apple and sync everything. I can't do that with the Nokia (and I wouldn't want to even if I could). So i'm going through the tedious task of writing down anything important from my phone and printing my photos out (which is further confirming I use my phone for waaay too much XD). I'm also in the process of getting a new laptop. Mine is old, laggy/ won't load certain websites, and based on google. Google isn't just an app on this laptop, it's literally the entire system (it's a Chromebook). I don't know which computer I'm getting, but definitely one where Google can go back to being just a search engine. I'll be using a Google and YouTube alternative for everything except Gmail (for now at least). I'm deleting TikTok and Facebook once my new phone comes in this week. I'm very excited for this new stage in life where tech is going back to just being tech. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti tech at all. I just don't want my life to be enmeshed with it.
This age verification crap really has me questioning my online privacy a lot more now. I'm looking into VPNs too (leaning towards Proton).
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Apav
I did the same thing last year and its really made me prioritize real person relationships more. Although that's been extremely difficult considering I live in a very rural area :/
I haven't had any problems with NordVPN other than the cost when I miss the renewal deals.
Good luck!
I'm glad to hear it made such an improvement in your life! I'm hoping for the same for myself. I'm not set on Proton so I'll definitely look into NordVPN (I've been hearing about that one for year). Thanks for the recommendation and well wishes!
by kay<3; ; Report
eeveekittyxoxo
HAPPY FOR YOU!!! that sounds awesome. i swear its so hard to break modern social media addiction but life is so much better without it >_<
Thank you for the well wishes! I really knew it was beginning to be a problem for me when I could no longer focus on a book I was reading for more than 20 minutes at a time.
by kay<3; ; Report
pretense
I'd recommend you steer clear of Proton personally. Reason being is that Proton has a track record of sponsoring problematic content creators, their CEO openly supporting hires of elected officials who are causing a lot of this tech / AI push in the first place, and also they have in the past given data to federal agents who have asked for it. (Granted that is due to people paying with credit cards, but they never objected to releasing it.)
I stand by and strongly recommend Mullvad. It is straight forward, the price hasn't changed at all in it's existence (around $5 USD a month) and you can pay month to month without a plan, you don't even sign up with an email, just an account number, and you are able to send them cash in order to stay more anonymous. Of course you can also use credit cards as well. Mullvad is one of the only subscriptions that I have zero issue using.
Thanks for letting me know. I wasn't set on Proton so I'll be looking into a couple others now that I know that. And thank you for the recommendation. I'm adding Mullvad to the list to look into now!
by kay<3; ; Report