If someone had told me back in 2015 that in 2020 two of the top tending keywords on Google would be ‘alternative to Facebook’ and ‘conservative alternatives to Facebook’, I would have said they were lying! However, sadly enough, it is true! Since around June of 2020, actions of censorship leading to account suspension and or restriction have been headlines in the news.
Things got heated after Facebook agreed to promote a documentary by Netflix called CUTIES even though it has denied ads of material much less controversial in the past. This action by Facebook sparked outrage and caused the hashtag ‘#CancelNetflix’ to trend! The film was seen by many as offensive and sexualization of minors. In Tyler County, a Texas grand jury indicted Netflix for the “lewd” representation of children in the controversial film. The controversy took another step for the worse as we got closer to the election, and people started to report irregularities they were experiencing!
Here are some options for conservatives looking for alternatives to Facebook.
- One of the most significant issues facing Facebook today is the erosion of confidence many users have about the social media giant! Some have even labeled it one of, if not the most, unethical companies in existence today! The truth is that Facebook has paid billions in lawsuits and settlements for its apparent disregard for user privacy and data mining. However, there are several things you can do to protect your privacy from Facebook’s data-mining practices. One of the simplest is not to use the Facebook APP. Many security experts and even government officials have raised questions about Facebook’s capability of tracking users across the internet, platforms, and devices via the Facebook APP. The website works just fine from a browser; although you may have to close the install APP suggestion more often than you would like, installing the APP is not something you want to do if you value your privacy.
- Uninstalling the APP means using a browser to navigate Facebook. However, if you are using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or even Firefox, you are still vulnerable and trackable! That is because Facebook uses a combination of pixels, cookies, and javascript to keep tracking you as you serve the web! In fact, many other companies in the ad serving business do the same, including Google and Amazon. There are several browsers able to protect your privacy. The Opera Browser and the Brave Browser are probably at the top of the list! The Opera Browser is a European browser that offers a lot of unique features, including a built-in VPN to mask your location and an integrated chat tool to help you stay in touch with those overseas, as well as an AdBlocker! The Opera Browser never gained any traction in the US because, as a European browser, many Americans find it corky! I prefer to use the Brave Browser. It is much like Google Chrome but with much-added security and privacy.
- The main topic for this article is whether there are alternatives to Facebook. There are! Both MeWe and Parler have risen as an alternative for Facebook. Simultaneously, Rumble is giving YouTube a run for its money with content creators by offering better pay, less censorship, and more opportunities. MeWe fills a gap with a young audience that Facebook has failed to retain, while many see Parler as a conservative alternative to Facebook.
- Stand up for your rights! There is no question that Facebook, on many occasions, has overstepped its boundaries when it comes to violating users’ rights under the constitution. Over the years, the company has paid billions in judgments and settlements for things ranging from violation of privacy to felonious activities involving data minding and the selling of such data! Complaining about these things resolve nothing. Consumers should be on the lookout for class action lawsuits at both the state and federal levels against Facebook. One perfect example is political activist Candice Owens, who is pursuing legal action against the Facebook Fact-Checking team. For information on this litigation, please visit com
- Most if not all of Facebook’s misconduct is related to income and or making money! Given Facebook’s size, you may feel powerless against such an enterprise. However, know that as a digital company, they have a very weak and noticeable Achille’s heel. Almost 99% of Facebook’s income is attached to ad revenue! And if by any chance they become known as not the ideal place to advertise, it can cost them billions! You, as an individual, can take steps to diminish Facebook’s ad revenue by disabling Facebook ads. The procedure is not only legal but your rights under the company’s terms and conditions. To turn off Facebook ads, scroll down your timeline and look for any post that says “sponsored,” go to the three little dots to the right, click it, and chose “hide ad”. This is going to bring up a pop-up window. In that window, select the option that says “irrelevant.” That is going to bring up yet another pop-up window. In that window, select the option that says, “hide all ads from the vendor.” The same method works for the ads along the right margin. Facebook has been very disrespectful to its audience, and if a good number of its audience decides to stop consuming ads, it may be the end for the social media giant.
Thank for stopping by, and although this post and video were way off topic as it doesn’t relate to DIY, I hope you learn something from it! Please help me grow the Cuban Redneck DIY Channel by subscribing, liking, and sharing, and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Parler, the alternative of Facebook!