Like many of you I have had a lot of arguments between people over the past few years about politics. While walking with a friend the other day I realized that the dimension he is living in and the movie he is watching involve worries about the exact same thing that we do - overreach by big tech and authoritarian figures in their government.
I have shown videos of the police in Quebec running into an elderly person's home during lockdown on CNN. I have told them that even if the vaccine is fine why would you want to go first? I have also told them if you are using social media why not just use an open alternative that is much more secure and doesn't leave a fingerprint on a server?
I found the best arguments worked against big tech. Signal is a great alternative especially since Facebook is changing it's WhatsApp and messenger privacy policy this month. Tell them you don't like Facebook's new policy changes.
The best argument for big tech is that most Facebook pages, Twitter pages and Instagram pages are publicly available online. These people know screens make them anxious, they need a push. Ask them why would you want anyone seen your data and have it live on their servers especially if you do think that there is a coup by Republicans in America?
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I have had five friends and family cancel their Twitter accounts
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I have had 13 people move over to encryption under Signal
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I have had four people get rid of their Facebook
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I have had five people remove themselves from Instagram
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I have had two people cancel their Amazon prime
Talk to these people about the worry we all share - no need to mention POTUS at all. Bite your tongue and focus on their true anxiety and worries.
My Hong Kong friends are all moving to Signal and they are liberal people - but the situation is a little different there. But no one likes the idea of Big Brother always watching