Thread by @garethaledavies

Just watched #TheSocialDilemma and want to protect yourself for misleading content or algorithms?

Here are a few things you can do:

THREAD 🧵 (1/9)

1. 👊 Sabotage the algorithm by purposefully liking random pages that don't align with your profile or interests. Unfollow those pages so you don't receive updates.

Facebook has already built up a detailed psychographic profile of you, but we can confuse them.

2. 👻 Use privacy-conscious search engines such as @duckduckgo or @qwant. Even better, use @ecosia
and help reforest the world with your searches.

Consider using privacy-conscious browsers like TOR.

Default to open-source technology providers.

3. ⛔️ Use an ad-blocking tool, like @getadblock, which blocks pop up ads.

But remember that many businesses rely on ads for revenue. So pay for services you like and trust (such as magazines and newspapers). Protecting the press is also important.

4. 📰 Use a newsfeed blocker to prevent social media from taking your attention. I recommend HideFeed by @dk_the_human. It's a privacy-conscious option that lets you use the messaging functionality of platforms without getting sucked into the newsfeed.

5. 🔴 Disable notifications so you can be intentional about how you use your time.

Protip: You can toggle notifications so you don't receive popups but have the little red icons. So you can customise notifications how you like.

6. 📞 Use a burner phone on the weekend. Many of us need social media or smartphones for work. Keep a dumb phone with you for the weekends to get some headspace.

7. 🗑 Delete social apps from your phone. When you can only use them on a computer, you use them much less. Now that we're all working from home, we don't need to use these apps so much on-the-go.

8. 🔌 Use an extension to prevent recommended content. That's how social media keeps you stuck in a cycle and gains more info about your triggers.

9. 👟 Start new hobbies and keep a busy and structured social life. We often use social media passively. And weaning ourselves off it is tough. These things were designed to be addictive!

Replace the time with:
🎾 Exercise
📚 Reading
🍲 Cooking

👾 Even gaming is more productive

I hope this list helps you have a more productive and rich personal life, and rein in social media a bit.

To find an ethical alternative for tools you love, checkout:

ethical.net/resources/

Any useful tips I missed?

Please leave a reply and let me know! 🙏

Bonus tip: 🌫 Set your phone to grayscale mode. Apps are designed to be bright and shiny and mesmerising. Putting everything in grayscale reduces those triggers and helps you focus only on what's important.