#unplugtrump Digital Disconnect: The Best Alternatives to Google, Facebook & More

Digital Disconnect — Here’s How!

#unplugtrump: Your Guide to a More Independent Internet

In a world where data has become the most valuable currency, reclaiming control over your personal information is more important than ever—for your privacy, for a fairer digital world, and for your digital well-being.

With our #unplugtrump series, we’ll show you step-by-step how to unplug from the big tech oligarchs. You’ll be surprised how easy switching can be — and how big the impact!

Turn Your Back on Google and Bing — Time for a Privacy-Friendly Search!

Google stores every single search you make, builds a profile on you, and sells that data to advertisers. The search engine becomes a data trap. But there’s a better way — with search engines that don’t store your data.

• StartPage gives you Google results without Google knowing who you are. Your IP address stays anonymous.
• Ghostery adds a built-in tracker blocker that protects you on other websites, too.
• Kagi is perfect for those who value quality over quantity and don’t mind paying a bit for privacy.
• MetaGer is a genuine open-source project from Germany—transparent, independent, and funded by donations.

✅ You get relevant search results without surveillance, ads, or data-sharing.

Goodbye Gmail, Hello mailbox.org, Posteo, or Proton Mail!

Gmail reads your emails—not just by machines, but in ways that feed your data into Google’s advertising profile. The solution? Email services that truly take privacy seriously.

• mailbox.org and posteo.de are based in Germany and subject to strict German data protection laws.
• Proton Mail is based in Switzerland, offers end-to-end encryption by default, and lets you use it anonymously — no phone number required. Your emails are stored encrypted, with no ads and no data sharing. Fair pricing — Proton Mail even has a free plan with basic storage.

✅ You free your digital communication from data-hungry corporations while securing it with the latest standards.

Messengers Without Big Brother!

WhatsApp belongs to Meta — and even though chats are encrypted, tons of metadata is generated: who talks to whom, when, how often, and for how long. This info feeds directly into your Facebook profile.

• Signal is the most popular alternative: free, open source, with strong encryption. It works almost like WhatsApp — but without the data collection.
• Threema shines in privacy: the Swiss messenger doesn’t require a phone number and stores almost nothing — not even on servers.

✅ You don’t have to sacrifice convenience to protect your privacy — in fact, you get your control back.

Bye Zuckerberg, Hello Fediverse!

Social networks like Facebook and Instagram are designed to grab your attention and collect as much data as possible. What you like, click, or see — it’s all monetized.

• The Fediverse, a free and decentralized network universe, works differently: you can use platforms like Mastodon (a Twitter alternative) or Pixelfed (an Instagram alternative) — with no ads, no data selling, and no algorithmic tricks.
• On Mastodon, you find content through hashtags, not manipulated trends or paid visibility. Your timeline? Chronological, not sorted by reach or engagement. You choose which server to use — or even run your own. Nobody controls the whole system — it belongs to everyone and no one at the same time.

✅ You’re not the product — you’re part of a network built on openness, diversity, and user control.

Your New Cloud!

Cloud storage is convenient—no question. But with services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, you hand your data over to companies whose business models rely on analysis, profiling, and selling.

• With Nextcloud, you can run your own cloud or use trusted European providers. Your data stays encrypted, ad-free, and under your control.
• pCloud offers servers in the EU, and Tresorit stands out with strong encryption and a zero-knowledge philosophy: even operators can’t see your data.

✅ You get the same convenience as the big players — without having to digitally undress yourself.

In Summary: Small Changes, Big Impact
When people only listen to the language of money, they have to feel it in lost revenue. Every step you take away from the tech giants strengthens alternatives, privacy, and sends a clear message:

👉 Digital self-determination is possible.