Dave Lane  🇳🇿Dec 27, 2022
I just hope that people learn one thing from the Twitter debacle (especially those who consider themselves dependent on it): allowing yourself to become dependent on a tool that is centralised, corporate, for-profit, and proprietary is a perfect way to set yourselves up for a similar fall in future. Look for the same pattern in your other tech dependencies. I suspect most of us will feel some discomfort. That's good. It's also appropriate. That's what leads to positive change.
Show threadGodfrey642Dec 27, 2022

@lightweight First i deleted my account on FB - 6 or 7 yrs ago and NEVER regretted it for one minute.

Then left Whatsapp for *Signal* - about 3 yrs ago, brilliant move and NEVER regretted it for one minute.

Then I stopped using Amazon and buy online from local Aus-based suppliers (especially books)- 3yrs ago and have NEVER regretted it.

Then i left Spotify (after its zero response to R-W Jordan Peterson, Joe Rogan and Ben Shapiro podcasts) and signed up to *Tidal* - 1 yr ago with zero regrets especially as Tidal sound quality is AMAZING.

Then left Twitter for *Mastodon* - about 2 mths ago, brilliant move and NEVER regretted it.

I think theres a pattern here...
I honestly wouldn't care if Zuckerberg Besos and Musk lost every cent they have and ended up sleeping under a tree.
Smaller businesses need air and support to thrive. #music #booklovers #socialmedia #shoppingonline #FaceButt #meta #amazonboycott #elonmusk

Show threadSimon 🌻Dec 27, 2022
@Godfrey642 @lightweight @aral I pretty much did the same but add to that google. Moved email client, search engine, browser and maps. zero regrets and don’t miss any of them.
Show threadGodfrey642Dec 27, 2022
@sinky @lightweight @aral Yes! Same
I use Ecosia. Hate google. Hate the way a lot of platforms assume you want to login with Google or FB.
Show threadSimon 🌻Dec 27, 2022
@Godfrey642 @lightweight @aral That does stick in my throat too. I use Neeva for search and browser on iOS.
Show threadGodfrey642Dec 27, 2022
@sinky @lightweight @aral
But does it plant trees???
😉
Show threadDave Lane  🇳🇿Dec 27, 2022
@Godfrey642 @sinky @aral I've been using Ecosia, too, for a few months (after I heard that DuckDuckGo is using MS Bing - yeah, it still exists)... and then I heard that Ecosia also gets most of its results from Bing... and @jackyan pointed out some interesting indications that MS has let Bing's index collapse... which doesn't bode well for Google alternatives.
Show threadSimon 🌻Dec 27, 2022
@lightweight i guess though you can only do so much with what you have. Google have such a monopoly on things it’s difficult for any company to start a rival search engine from the ground up. Have you read around/tried neeva?
Show threadmathewDec 27, 2022
@sinky @lightweight There’s kagi.com as well, trying to build a sustainable search engine business without surveillance capitalism.
Show threadJay 🆘
@mathew @sinky @lightweight I’ve been using #Kagi for nearly a year and I love it. Even better than DDG, which was OK but now has so much advertising.
Dec 27, 2022 at 8:22pmWeb
Show threadSimon 🌻Dec 27, 2022
@jsit Neeva has no advertising either.