Breaking Free from Big Tech

“But you’ll own nothing and be happy.”

This quote often gets thrown around to criticize the growing power of Big Tech. The truth is, GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) already knows more about you than you probably think — your location, your interests, your behavior, your contacts. They offer incredible convenience, but at the cost of your privacy and autonomy.

When we rely exclusively on proprietary, closed-source software from these giants, we give up control. We don’t know exactly what the code is doing behind the scenes, what data it is sending back to the mothership, or when a feature we rely on might be suddenly removed or put behind a paywall.

First important step

It might seem tedious, but before recommending new apps or software for you to try, there is one quick thing you can do right now: go to the settings of your main social media apps and uncheck as many privacy and tracking boxes as possible.

In mainstream apps, there is a lot of data collection that, thanks to some country policies, we are allowed to opt out of. Also, you can check the allowed permissions directly in your phone’s settings to remove access to your camera, microphone, or files. This will not delete the internal data they already have, but it limits future collection.

The Power of FOSS

This is where FOSS comes in. FOSS stands for Free and Open-Source Software.

  • Free as in freedom (you can use it how you want), and often free as in price.
  • Open-Source means the underlying code is public. Anyone can inspect it, verify that it isn’t spying on you, and even contribute improvements.

You can think of FOSS as volunteering. It’s software made by people, for people, rather than by corporations for profit. These are applications you can actually trust, because their motivations are transparent.

The Struggle of Small Dev Teams

It’s becoming increasingly difficult for small teams to launch and maintain independent software projects. Everything moves too fast, and if something doesn’t work perfectly out of the gate, users just move on. The pressure to monetize, track, and retain users puts independent developers in a tough spot. It’s hard to compete with giants who offer polished, “free” services (which are actually paid for with your data).

That is why supporting FOSS projects—whether by donating, contributing code, or simply using and recommending them—is so vital. It keeps the internet diverse and competitive.

Great FOSS Alternatives to Start With

You don’t have to switch everything overnight. Here are a few fantastic FOSS applications you can try right now:

  • Firefox or Brave: Replace Chrome or Safari with a privacy-respecting browser.
  • Obsidian or Joplin: Excellent tools for note-taking and knowledge management that keep your data local.
  • Nextcloud or Syncthing: A decentralized way to sync files across your devices without relying on Google Drive or Dropbox. (If you must use Google Drive, use Cryptomator to encrypt your files first!)
  • VLC Media Player: The legendary media player that can handle almost any file type without tracking what you watch.

Switching to FOSS is a powerful step toward reclaiming your digital independence. It’s about choosing software that respects your rights as a user.