Often times, I tell people to what extend big tech is willing to hurt people, to collect more and more money, as in data! And the reaction is… disappointing. They either don’t care, sometimes even making jokes, or don’t get over the inconvenience of switching.
If I tell them that that some of those privacy apps, like brave compared to chrome, is more convenient, they don’t care. If I tell them that they hurt themselves by using big tech, like TikTok, they don’t care. If I tell them that their use of those apps hurt others, they don’t care.
I don’t think I am convincing enough. So what can I tell them?
Here’s the thing: You don’t. You can’t. There are no magic words to make someone see things your way. You can give them ideas to mull over, but you can’t convince someone who doesn’t want to be convinced. You can be open, express your views and give your reasons to anyone willing to listen, but that is the extent of what you can do. Some people may eventually come to you for advice; welcome them and guide them as you can. Most people may take some bits from you but never start actually caring. That’s ok, that’s their way.
You can’t force people to do things your way, nor should you try. Just be honest.
You can’t control or convince others.
What you can do is live your best life and let them know it. Not in an annoying way, but in a real way.
How many conversations do I hear about spam calls or text messages? Everybody hates them and they get in on this commonality thing of yeah we all hate that it sucks. Then I bust out with a, yeah I’m glad I don’t really deal with that anymore… Wait what? I have a solution?
Then I break it down, and I’m very clear my measures are not for the faint of heart. But its a spectrum and there’s some low hanging fruit they can do to dramatically change things from where they are. Do they do it? No. But they now know there is a better way and acknowledge it, then actively choose not to do it.
Does that change anything? Yes and no. No, nothing technically changed. But yes, they understand a little more now. So now they don’t treat you like a crazy person or if you say you’d rather not use WhatsApp or whatever they aren’t so insistent that this is all you being weird.
Stop making it a confrontation is my point. That makes you the bad guy. You’re not, the companies and governments are. Let them see that.
I ALWAYS get the “I have nothing to hide🤣” argument.
And I know that is very stupid but I can’t convince them why that doesn’t make any sense.
Private messages, home address, location data. I convinced one of my friends it’s like if a stalker follows you around all the time seeing where you’re at, snooping over your shoulder to see your messages and what apps you open up, what you post on the internet.
Cops know that if they follow someone around enough that they’ll eventually break the law.
Political power can change hands and suddenly you can be part of a targeted group because of what you’ve posted and said online.
Some can’t be convinced. The privacy (or lack of) tradeoff is worth it for them for the convince of the platform.
Everyone’s being so despondent. Of course it’s possible to convince someone to care about privacy. If they’re your friends, you’ll know them better than we do. What do they value? What do they care about?
In my experience more people care about privacy than you think. But they just think it’s hopeless. They’re constantly being told “There’s no point. Every company already knows everything about you. Give up.”
Bullshit. Even if ad companies have a nice tailored set of data on someone’s interests, behaviours, routines, etc. the moment that person cuts off the supply, that data starts becoming less relevant, less useful and less valuable every day. Once I explained that to a few people I had a bit more luck getting them to install ad blockers and stop posting so much personal info online
Talk to them in a language they’ll understand. If they deal drugs, tell them they’re much less likely to get caught using encrypted messaging apps. If they’re into true crime, point out how many stalkers were able to track their victims down using what they’d posted on social media
Be subtle about it, free of judgement. Don’t lecture them on something they likely know already, and (semi)consciously ignore to maintain an unhealthy, yet comforting pattern. It’s rather about planting seeds, than doing the thinking for them: let them come to their own conclusions next time they use it.
It’s all about predatory dark patterns, that deliberately exploit human psychology; so gear them up to recognize these abusive mechanisms. Not in a direct way, but just by casual conversation about content on their timeline, with some observation woven into it, like: quite some advertisements, huh? What does that little text say? Oh, “sponsored content”. Do your friends still post things? Because I haven’t seen any on your timeline. Shouldn’t that be the entire purpose of this platform? They give you notifications about friends liking other’s posts now? That seems a little excessive.
My mom has been using the platform a lot less since I did, and she even has opened up to the concept of disabling Facebook push-notifications. The latter needing some more time, because she’s struggling with a fear of missing out. I once disabled push-notifications for news applications too without asking, so perhaps I should do the same for Facebook (Messenger being a different application anyways).
The main problem seems to be that users have, successfully, been conditioned into wanting anti-features. My mom actually clicks personalized advertisements, and I have no clue how to cure her from that; other than to joke about a particular shoe brand always being featured. I already substituted her ad-ridden weather app for a Firefox (with uBlock) shortcut, which she has really come to appreciate. So there’s progress to be made: it just requires the right approach, and a lot of patience; which is worthwhile for loved ones.
“brave” is joke?
it’s not the best but basically anything is an upgrade over chrome
First, don’t expect to change their mind with anything you say.
Second, keep it simple and only provide details if they ask.
Third, make it less about logic and appeal to pathos and ethos more. If they’re Christian, talk about your “God-given right” to privacy. Talk about how you don’t like your fourth amendment rights being stepped on. If they ask about that, then start adding in some actual arguments. “If the governments not allowed to invade my privacy, then who do these corporations think they are?” “The governments not allowed to invade my privacy without a warrant, but they just buy my data from these corporations anyway, it’s basically illegal!”
I’m gonna try starting with this. It’s crazy to me how people are just used to living with ads
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israeli-firm-targeted-ads-espionage-9.7381922
It amazes me that people are not using ad blockers these days.
I’ve had success acting like a high-pressure marketer to my family. It’s what the regime does, and it works.
First, you get or download an alternative product without asking anyone.
Second, you ask them politely the first time to try it.
Third, if they do not listen, you paralyze their brains and activities with a fight until they listen. Trump does this to great effect on the conservative base.
When you deal with people who don’t care about protecting their privacy, you’re dealing with people who have authoritarian values. You have to be an authoritarian to them because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to respond to.
