Why Leave Big Tech?¶

Leaving Big Tech isn’t about rejecting technology — it’s about reclaiming choice, privacy, and control over your digital life.

The platforms we depend on every day often come with hidden costs—to our data, our autonomy, and even to the health of the internet itself.

The Hidden Costs of Convenience¶

Big Tech simplifies our lives—but often by giving away our rights:

Massive data collection: Google logs your search terms, location, browsing, and even email content. Apple and Amazon collect less—but their platforms still gather considerable data. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Hidden tracking everywhere: Popular apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Amazon demand risky permissions—882 permissions in total across just 20 apps, many accessing your microphone, location, and file data. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Cross-device surveillance: Companies use ultrasonic beacons and browser fingerprinting to track users across devices—creating a unified, detailed behavioral profile even without login. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Health data misuse: A California jury recently ruled Meta illegally collected sensitive reproductive health data from users of the Flo period tracking app. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Growing awareness is sparking backlash:

Privacy anxiety is widespread: 81% of Americans worry about how companies use their personal data, and 73% feel they lack control. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Urgent support for regulation: Studies show 87% support banning data sales without consent, and 86% want to force companies to limit data collection. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Massive fines and settlements: Google recently paid $1.4 billion to settle a Texas privacy lawsuit; Meta faced a similar payout over facial recognition misuses. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

When a few mega-platforms control the web, risks multiply:

Opaque manipulation through dark patterns: Big Tech routinely uses deceptive UI tactics—like hidden opt-outs—to nudge users into giving up more data. In the EU, 97% of sites deployed at least one dark pattern. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Ethical breaches: The Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed how personal data from 87 million Facebook users was harvested without consent for political manipulation. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

This isn’t abstract. These systems create real consequences:

Censorship & deplatforming: Platforms can remove creators or throttle content overnight, without transparency or appeal.
Centralized failure points: Outages, policy changes, or data breaches can disrupt entire sectors (or relationships).
Environmental consequences: The infrastructure powering Big Tech demands massive carbon footprints with little accountability.

Choosing alternatives isn’t about rejecting modern tech—it’s about opting for services that respect your:

Every alternative you adopt—one service at a time—builds a healthier internet, where users make the rules, not shareholders.