Tired of the News? Turn Outrage Into Action With These Digital Privacy Tips (+ Other Random Advice)
- Punching Up Press
- May 15
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Ever read the news and feel like all you can do is shake your fist at it?
Me too. That’s why I put together this roundup of quick, meaningful privacy action steps—so you can channel your news burnout into something that actually makes a difference.
These tips take just minutes but help you push back against Big Tech surveillance, reclaim some personal autonomy, and calm that sense of helplessness.
WITHDRAW YOUR DATA FROM PRIVACY INVADERS
Below is a fabulous infographic called the "Privacy Iceberg" by Lemmy user The 8232 Project. (Used with permission. Scroll to the bottom of this page for links and a transcript.)
ACTION ITEM: Locate where you are on the iceberg and do one thing that will start to move you down a level. For example, if you're on the "As Seen on TV" tier, try switching from Google Search to DuckDuckGo. If you're on the "Privacy Enthusiast" tier, join the Signal messaging app and invite a few friends. If you're at "Privacy Activist" level, you get a pass—no need to fake your own death.
(BTW, I list many free privacy tools in DISENGAGE: Escape the Leash of Big Tech, Scams and Surveillance—Everyday Resistance for the Digital Underdog. Remember, this book is my gift to you...it was a passion project and I never charge for it!)
USE THE FORCE AGAINST BIG TECH
The Rebel Tech Alliance is a non-profit helping people break free from surveillance capitalism with practical resources and privacy-focused tools
I love that one of the founders is not a hardcore techie, so all of the resources are accessible and useful...and there are a lot of them. Read articles on why Big Tech is a threat to democracy, common objections to ditching Big Tech (and how to overcome them), and more.
A vast list of alternatives helps you find the perfect replacements for various apps, social media, etc. And businesses can apply for SMBZero Certification to show concerned customers that they don't engage in the Surveillance Business Model.
ACTION ITEM: Go to the "Alternatives" submenu and choose just one platform or app you'd like to replace...then do it! If you have a lot of time, I recommend replacing your cloud storage platform. A medium amount of time, switch to an alternative office suite (I use LibreOffice). Just a little bit of time, install a better VPN.
BOOT SELF-ESTEEM-BUSTING STALKERS FROM YOUR LIFE
Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and other Meta apps are toxic to self-esteem and privacy. One exposé showed how Meta allegedly detected when teen girls deleted selfies—and used that info to sell them beauty ads.
ACTION ITEM: Meta doesn't like us. So if you are still on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or any other Meta space—take the strong hints they're sending out and delete your accounts. In DISENGAGE, I offer not only instructions on how to download your data from and delete various social media accounts—but also kinder, more privacy-forward alternatives to traditional social media platforms.
BE FRIGHTENED (AND THEN ENLIGHTENED)
We've all heard that many of our apps are tracking us, but it's hard to understand the severity of the issue without actually knowing how many trackers an app has and what they're doing.
Exodus: The privacy audit platform for Android applications lets Android users see how many trackers and permissions each app uses. It flags risks and even suggests safer options. (Permissions are access to, say, your microphone or contacts list.)
Not only that, the platform will show you exactly what those trackers and permissions are, and whether they're considered dangerous to your privacy. If an app gets a poor overall privacy rating, the site offers an article with better options.
ACTION ITEM: If you're on Android—or even if you're not—check out just one of your apps on this site. If it's deemed dangerous, either restrict permissions in Settings or replace the app with a safer one.
KEEP YOUR PRIVATE DATA SAFE WHILE TRAVELING
If you're traveling, device searches at the border are more invasive than ever. How to Stop Phone Searches When Traveling on Naomi Brockwell TV offers six tips for securing your device before traveling—which is even more important now than ever. If your device is seized by an agent, not only can they see every one of your files, emails, and texts—they can also download all your data for later analysis, know where you've been, and install a keylogger that tracks your actions on the device once you get it back.
Naomi's advice includes creating a strong PIN, disabling pairing, and removing or covering any laptop stickers that may stand out to TSA agents.
ACTION ITEM: Change your phone PIN to either a number longer than 6 characters or a passphrase. Set your phone to disallow more than a certain number of login attempts—or even wipe the phone if someone enters the wrong PIN too many times.
If you already have a strong PIN, instead spend a few minutes anonymizing your laptop or phone. I try to make my laptop as inconspicuous as possible even when I'm not traveling...no stickers, blank background/wallpaper, no identifying details in folder names.
F*CK THIS SH*T
The petition "Honor Trans Service: Allow Early Retirement & Demand Policy Reform" is fighting new government policies that are "separating" loyal military servicepeople who happen to be trans. People who have been serving their country for years are now being cut off before they can claim any of the retirement benefits that were promised to them.
ACTION ITEM: Sign the petition. (Using a masked email if you have that capability!)
AN HONEST REVIEW OF THRIVE MARKET ;)
Looking to divest from Amazon, Walmart, and Target?
I recently started using Thrive Market, which offers organic and ethical grocery options. It’s not perfect (membership fees, higher prices), but it’s a step toward supporting better businesses.
I don't use affiliate links...this is just my personal experience with Thrive Market.
I DO like their selection of products from smaller/more ethical businesses. For example, I've gotten some delicious snack foods that are similar to the big corporate brands, such as Good Crisps (which are like Pringles).
I DON'T like that you have to pay a monthly or annual fee to use the site. I'm paying $48 for this year through a special promotion they were running.
I DO like being able to find organic alternatives to foods I buy regularly, such as dried chickpeas.
I DON'T like how expensive it is. They promise you'll save money, and that's true—if you were already buying organic, fair trade, etc. products elsewhere and switched to Thrive Market. But switching from regular stores and supermarkets, not so much.
I DO like (love!) their toiletries, such as tea tree oil toothpaste, Mad Hippie brand serums, and ginger-scented deodorant.
I DO like their carbon-neutral shipping, and the fact that almost everything is cushioned in paper-based wraps.
In all, I think it's worth a try if you're looking to divert some of your grocery money to more ethical businesses. I don't know if I'll renew my annual subscription because I'm not sure I use it enough to be worth it. But if cost were not a factor, I'd be a fan for life.
ACTION ITEM: If you've been thinking about divesting from certain corporations, take a look at the Thrive Market site.
You don’t need to go off-grid to reclaim your digital privacy. These small steps add up—especially when they’re paired with awareness and intention. Even if you're overwhelmed by the news, you can take a deep breath, take one small action, and feel a little more in control.
FROM LEMMY USER The 8232 Project
Transcription (for accessibility)
(I tried my best)
The background is an iceberg with 6 levels, denoting 6 different levels of privacy.
The tip of the iceberg is titled "The Brainwashed" with a quote beside it that says "I have nothing to hide". The logos depicted in this section are:
The surface section of the iceberg is titled "As seen on TV" with a quote beside it that says "This video is sponsored by...". The logos depicted in this section are:
An underwater section of the iceberg is titled "The Beginner" with a quote beside it that says "I don't like hackers and spying". The logos depicted in this section are:
A lower section of the iceberg is titled "The Privacy Enthusiast" with a quote beside it that says "I have nothing I want to show". The logos depicted in this section are:
An even lower section of the iceberg is titled "The Privacy Activist" with a quote beside it that says "Privacy is a human right". The logos depicted in this section are:
An illustration of physical cash
The lowest portion of the iceberg is titled "The Ghost". There is a quote beside it that has been intentionally redacted. The images depicted in this section are:
A cancel sign over a mobile phone, symbolizing "no electronics"
An illustration of a log cabin, symbolizing "living in a log cabin in the woods"
A picture of gold bars, symbolizing "paying only in gold"
A picture of a death certificate, symbolizing "faking your own death"
An AI generated picture of a person wearing a black hoodie, a baseball cap, a face mask, and reflective sunglasses, symbolizing "hiding ones identity in public"
End of transcription.
The comments are open, so bark back if you’ve got thoughts. Fake names and masked emails are fine—its how we digital underdogs roll.
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