Linguist Gone Foreign 🌏4d ago

I'm very happy to see how my 3-year journey replacing big tech with privacy-oriented, humane platforms is shaping:

Gmail: Tuta and Proton

Google Calendar: Fossify

Google Maps: Organic Maps

Twitter: Mastodon

Facebook, Instagram: Pixelfed

WhatsApp, Telegram: Signal

Android: GrapheneOS

Windows: Linux Mint

It was overwhelming, it took time and research. But I can tell you that another digital experience is possible.

Now I'm thrilled to have devices that belong to ME, like in the old days.

Show threadLinguist Gone Foreign 🌏

I shall add that what started my big-tech liberation journey was a Mastodon blog series by a lady doing a 30-day big-tech cleanse: each day, one service to ditch and alternatives.

Granted, it’s taken me much longer than 30 days. I’m nearly 3 years in.

Nonetheless, wherever you are, thank you for sparking the curiosity, and to this amazing community for existing.

I never imagined that leaving Twitter and trying out this Mastodon thing would be such a wholesome, transformative experience.

May 11 at 8:54pmMastodon for Android
Show threadFeralFood4d ago
@linguistgoneforeign I'm finding organic maps better for walking directions (theres a couple of places where google doesn't understand the concept of 'footpath', and tells you to go on a whole detour)
Show threadLinguist Gone Foreign 🌏3d ago

@FeralFood

US-based companies and products certainly have a hard time understanding the concept of walking. 😅

Show threadFeralFood20h ago
@linguistgoneforeign yeah, I didnt really understand that till I visited the us and had to cross a creek by via the narrow ledge on the outside of a roadbridge.
Show threadLinguist Gone Foreign 🌏17h ago

@FeralFood

Talking about travel adventure... 😅

Show threadMichael S.3d ago
@linguistgoneforeign Change needs time. I started switching from Microsoft Office to StarOffice (the grandfather of LibreOffice) 30 years ago and my first private Linux desktop run Ubuntu 0804 in 2008. And although I've avoided pitfalls like WhatsApp and Twitter, I'm still not quite there yet. My mobiles still use Android and in my country there is still no viable alternative for PayPal , Visa and MasterCard in sight. Next month is the first DiDay in my region. We’ll see what else is possible.
Show threadLinguist Gone Foreign 🌏3d ago

@M_E_ST

One day at a time!
Looking forward to DiDay. 😎