This illustration shows the Parler social media app logo displayed on a smartphone with its website in the background in Arlington, Virginia on July 2, 2020. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP via Getty Images)
Parler’s recent ban on Apple and Google app stores and Amazon’s closure of the social media app can make you think about the power of Big Tech. Add to this news that Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging service is increasingly capturing your personal data.
Tap or click to be shocked by the amount of data WhatsApp is sending to Facebook. Millions of users have now migrated to alternative messaging platforms like Signal and Telegram.
There are options to replace some of the most used applications and services. Tap or click here for Google alternatives for search, email, messages and more.
You don’t have to use an Apple or Android phone. You don’t even have to use Windows on your computer. Spoiler alert: you may not like the options.
Alternatives to the conventional smartphone
Smartphones are arguably the most used consumer technology pieces today. There are more mobile devices on Earth than people, so that should give you an idea of how prevalent they are.
What if you are ready to abandon Android from Apple and Google? The Light Phone and Blackphone are two mobile devices focused on privacy.
The Light Phone, created by Joe Hollier and Kaiwei Tang, is a simple experience. Without losing sight of an aesthetically pleasing design and commonly used features, the Light Phone was made to be used as little as possible.
RELATED: 5 apps you should delete from your smartphone now
The Blackphone, on the other hand, is one of the most secure mobile phones on the market. Created by Silent Circle in 2014, the encrypted device runs on its own operating system. All communications are fully encrypted for phone and text services, and this makes searches and web traffic anonymous.
You can also follow the Linux path. Fairphone, OnePlus, Gigaset and Nokia have good options available.
Protect your search
The fact that Google has become a verb is proof of the reach of the most widely used search engine in the world. Some alternatives value your privacy and even take you wherever you want to go online.
One of the most popular search engines for the security-conscious crowd is DuckDuckGo. The engine avoids personalized results and cannot use personal information like your search history or location to change the results.
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StartPage is another search engine focused on privacy. The Dutch company shows Google’s search results, but does not store your personal information or search data. StartPage is like a privacy filter between you and Google.
Where to spend your money
Avoiding Amazon can be stricter than you think. While not shopping on the Amazon website is the obvious first step, many other online sites use Amazon Web Services (AWS) to host their operations.
Sites like Spotify, Airbnb, Etsy and Pinterest use AWS as their cloud hosting service.
An alternative to Amazon is to buy in big stores like Target or Walmart. With a Walmart + subscription, you get free, unlimited delivery and fuel discounts for $ 98 a year. Tap or click here to see what the Walmart subscription has to offer.
This can be the perfect time to support your local stores and supermarkets.
Social media is complicated
With so many sites and services implementing Facebook login, this is a difficult connection to cut. The first big task is to get your data out of Facebook. Tap or click here to learn how to quickly transfer your photos and videos from Facebook.
So, go ahead and hit the delete button. Where should you go?
You can start with the social media platform I created. The Komando Community is an ad-free alternative for people interested in technology and making the most of their digital lives. Tap or click here to try it for free for 30 days.
Change operating systems
Windows and Mac computers are not the only games in town. The Linux operating system has been available since 1991 and is more widely used than you might think.
RELATED: This operating system can be more powerful and secure than Windows and Apple
What sets Linux apart is its open source software. Since its initial development and launch, the Linux community has been building the code ever since.
It can be scary at first to get Linux running on your machine. But, unlike Windows, almost all elements are customizable through different free and open source software packages.
The Deepin version is simple to install and operate. Find out how to do this here.
You can also use Ubuntu.
The final result
While it is possible to walk away from Big Tech companies, or at least minimize your dependence on them, it will be a struggle.
From social media to online shopping, the biggest tech companies are firmly rooted in the structure of the Internet. Certainly there are alternatives, but what you gain in privacy, you will probably lose in functionality.
You may want some hair growth serum before pulling out all of yours to try to regain your new life without Big Tech.
Is the PC slow, does the printer not print, or is it experiencing Wi-Fi problems? Post your technology questions to get concrete answers from me and other technology professionals. Visit my question and answer forum and get technical help now.
What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call Kim’s national radio program and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch The Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim’s free podcasts.
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Learn about all the latest technologies at The Kim Komando Show, the largest radio talk show in the country. Kim takes calls and gives advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit their website at Komando.com.