Big Tech Alternatives and a Social Revolution

Big tech has come under a lot of scrutiny over the last few years and the opposition to it seems to be growing daily. People have become disgusted with everything from being bombarded with unsolicited ads to other privacy concerns to unfair and unneeded levels of censorship. Well, there are some options out there for you if you are tired of the power big tech holds over your life. Here are a few.

Brave Browser – https://brave.com

The first thing you deal with anytime you use the Internet is your browser. While there are tons out there, there are only a few big names that dominate most activity. The biggest, of course is Google Chrome. If you like the look and feel of Chrome, you can try the Brave Browser. It’s all about privacy and won’t track you. You will only get unobtrusive ads if you choose so and can actually earn crypto currency for doing so. The Android app will also save battery.

Duck Duck Go Search Engine - www.Duckduckgo.com

Then there’s is a matter of picking the right search engine. Again, most people by an overwhelming margin use Google. But for a more private experience that does not track you or attempt to highlight some results while downplaying others, try Duck Duck Go. It’s been growing like wildfire and for good reason. It is a little different but this search tool has now become my go-to option.

Protonmail –www.protonmail.com

Then there’s email. Whether you use a free or paid web-based option of something from your ISP, if you’ve ever thought about another option, one very solid one is Protonmail. It is based out of Switzerland and high on security. There is a free version with modest storage. You can always upgrade to a paid account if it’s not enough.

Telegram Messenger - www.telgram.org

If email is too old-school and you’re into the massaging craze, you have likely either heard of your used something like Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp (also owned by Facebook). Both have been having some negative publicity lately and there was even an extensive service outage last week. A slightly less user-friendly but more secure option is Telegram. It offers group video chat as well. This app has been exploding in popularity and at last check had more than a half a billion users. Based on the most recent data I have found, that’s almost twice as many as Twitter.

Ripple Social - https://ripplesocial.yooco.org

An outside the box social media option is Ripple. This site is brand new (only about 2 months old or so) and based on a Wordpress system. It’s still building a user base. It’s kind of old school but that makes it simple and easy to use. The best parts are that they state they will never feature ads, you keep ownership or all your content and they focus on privacy.

Pixelfed – https://pixelfed.org

Like Instagram? How much more would you like it without all the ads and some of the recent negative press? You might want to try Pixelfed. It looks exactly like Instagram so a transition would be easy. They don’t feature ads or trackers and are very much a free speech option based in the Fediverse. It also seems like it has a more professional feel.

MeWe – www.mewe.com

This one has grown by leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. It’s a completely user-supported network with no ads and even has its own Privacy Bill or Rights. It’s kind of like what Facebook used to be before it became overloaded with unnecessary functions and started trying to influence discourse. It’s easy to get started and highly recommended.

Rumble – www.rumble.com

This is a good alternative to Youtube. Video publishers have more control over their content and copyright options and it’s a lot easier to monetize videos. It can take a little learning but it’s worth it. Some have dubbed it as a political echo chamber for conservatives but that would not be accurate. There are plenty of videos focusing on things like DIY projects, nature, sports…

Try these out for yourself. You never know, you just might stick with them.