<![CDATA[Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting.]]>Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.
Self-hosting. VPN configuration. Steep learning curves.
The privacy tools exist.
They're just not accessible to people without technical backgrounds.
That means privacy is effectively only available to people who can already code.
Everyone else stays in the ecosystem because leaving is too hard.
That's the gap worth closing.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/bb4f2641-29f7-47fb-a4d0-6fa6f1b693ed/most-google-alternatives-require-technical-knowledge-most-people-don-t-have.self-hosting.RSS for NodeTue, 26 May 2026 10:28:15 GMTSun, 17 May 2026 20:54:56 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:25:42 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui I dont mean you specifically, but in general people refuse to read a manual.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116589220751056086/statuses/116592262677721825https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116589220751056086/statuses/116592262677721825Sun, 17 May 2026 22:25:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:16:38 GMT]]>@sstendahl @Phenarax_ui

It's an effort issue, always is. If they don't care, they won't try.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Walruths/statuses/116592227001259046https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/Walruths/statuses/116592227001259046Sun, 17 May 2026 22:16:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:15:29 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui no. If you use the fashtech, you are part of the problem. You even know about the consequences and willingly ignore them. People have been convicted for less.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRW04D18Z7E5DQMSGJKWBS40https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRW04D18Z7E5DQMSGJKWBS40Sun, 17 May 2026 22:15:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:13:23 GMT]]>@RyszardD I don't use social media out side of YouTube, messenger, and mastodon. Python carsh course has been helpful, but without hardware it's only half the battle.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592214235890418https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592214235890418Sun, 17 May 2026 22:13:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:12:20 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui computers were never easy. Corporations came and made it easy to make money. Nothing good is easy, but it's not hard to learn instead of scrolling TikTok. There is treasure trove of resources.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116589220751056086/statuses/116592210124726218https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116589220751056086/statuses/116592210124726218Sun, 17 May 2026 22:12:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:08:24 GMT]]>@mirabilos I'd love to. Circumstances are preventing it. We can just agree to disagree. You have no idea what has gone on in my life to put me in this position, and I hold no ill will against you for it. I know that every message with ai systems has its consequences, and I'm busting my ass everyday to change mine. But I can only do so much so fast. I'd love to learn a better way. If you're offering to teach I'm here for it. Otherwise I can only do what I can do. Just like anyone else.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592194619610106https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592194619610106Sun, 17 May 2026 22:08:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 22:04:32 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui no, that is all use of it. That is all saying "fuck ethical concerns, fuck creative humans, I’m gonna burn down the planet".

If you don’t have the knowledge, learn. Never use "AI".

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVZGBN7Z092CHH99FM76P14https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVZGBN7Z092CHH99FM76P14Sun, 17 May 2026 22:04:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:58:23 GMT]]>@rwsoft that's truly unfortunate to hear. Everyone assumes Google is the best option even when it really isn't, and they ignore when people present better options. It's pretty tough. I hope that you can find a way to tell people why it's so risky and your option is just as convenient. Convenience is the real barrier along with lack of understanding the risk vectors.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592155293131804https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592155293131804Sun, 17 May 2026 21:58:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:55:14 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui It's a world where everyone uses digital tech but are completely computer illiterate. I setup a Nextcloud, Activity Pub system for a group I know and it wasn't even looked at. They went with Google and Meta without the slightest discussion 😞

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/rwsoft/statuses/116592142902993328https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/rwsoft/statuses/116592142902993328Sun, 17 May 2026 21:55:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:52:16 GMT]]>@mirabilos I've considered something like that, but I need it to run a 7b comfortably for something I'm working on that will teach me faster than most mentors are willing to go without a long term relationship prior. So if I come in with a better baseline then I can learn more faster from a mentor because they won't assume lack of learning capabilities.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592131207506728https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592131207506728Sun, 17 May 2026 21:52:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:50:12 GMT]]>@mirabilos I say use ai... That's not fair. I requested help from ai. For something big I've been working on. I just didn't have the knowledge to code it myself. So I got AI to do that. But the architecture is mine.
Feel free to check out my pinned posts for more explanation.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592123097109127https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592123097109127Sun, 17 May 2026 21:50:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:46:37 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui one Does Not use "AI", no matter what. (See my pinned post.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVYFJ7WT9CEN6H5Y5GJ7JGQhttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVYFJ7WT9CEN6H5Y5GJ7JGQSun, 17 May 2026 21:46:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:46:14 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui get a used laptop from 15 years ago for 10 EUR or something, that will bring you far.

(My daily driver is a model from 2007, and I hate modern laptops’ input devices. I have to suffer them at the $job laptop, which is… admittedly lots faster, but no more capable, than the 2007 Thinkpad.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVYEVE89XR8KZ89H8FX2B01https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVYEVE89XR8KZ89H8FX2B01Sun, 17 May 2026 21:46:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:39:16 GMT]]>@JessicatheVIArtist @ozzelot
Working on building myself so I can build a convenient option for people to use. That makes all of that easier. Constitutionally governed at the os level. Federated, and local first. It's a big undertaking but I can learn really fast in the environments that feed me information at my pace.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592080084734311https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592080084734311Sun, 17 May 2026 21:39:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:36:17 GMT]]>@mirabilos once I finish python and bash I'll learn c zig and rust. Then I can rebuild my project the right way instead of vibe coding it with ai.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592068336086534https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592068336086534Sun, 17 May 2026 21:36:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:35:24 GMT]]>@mirabilos I'm sure there are I just don't know how to get into those circles. I missed Linuxfest northwest for the same reason I don't have hardware anymore. Plus kinda hard to learn to code with no computer. So I'm using pydroid. Is what it is. I'm working on funds for it now.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592064898796262https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592064898796262Sun, 17 May 2026 21:35:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:33:38 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui no user groups or something in your area?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVXQSQFVEWBK3CPRCDXQXAJhttps://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVXQSQFVEWBK3CPRCDXQXAJSun, 17 May 2026 21:33:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:32:33 GMT]]>@mirabilos I'd love to find a mentor. I'm actively teaching myself python, and bash so I can change to better alternatives. It's not that I'm not willing to learn the how to navigate the differences. I don't have a PC right now do to some personal issues, but I was running Linux mint on mine before I had to get rid of my machine.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592053714829443https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116592053714829443Sun, 17 May 2026 21:32:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:19:11 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui @ozzelot And this is exactly what the companies want. I consider myself pretty techie at some things, but I don’t know how to code. Hearing about self hosting makes me tired just thinking about it!

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kind.social/users/JessicatheVIArtist/statuses/116592001106355587https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://kind.social/users/JessicatheVIArtist/statuses/116592001106355587Sun, 17 May 2026 21:19:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 21:15:41 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui not by dumbing down, though. Mentoring is key, and the nōn-technical people have to be willing to learn. (These days it’s just as hard to switch from e.g. one major version of Windows to the next as to a suitably configured FOSS desktop, willingness given, so this is not an implausible requirement. Whining about it not being exactly the same (which is the point) isn’t.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVWPX3HP6CC6HHDZY0QXKJ7https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.mirbsd.org/users/mirabilos/statuses/01KRVWPX3HP6CC6HHDZY0QXKJ7Sun, 17 May 2026 21:15:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 20:59:58 GMT]]>@sstendahl

Sure there are a couple of decent alternatives, but you're just going from one centralized system to another. Not really much of a difference in that aspect. You're still trusting policy to keep you safe.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116591925571608977https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/ap/users/116558302463711026/statuses/116591925571608977Sun, 17 May 2026 20:59:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Most Google alternatives require technical knowledge most people don't have.Self-hosting. on Sun, 17 May 2026 20:57:42 GMT]]>@Phenarax_ui is this really true? Kagi and Protonmail aren’t exactly more difficulty than the Google alternatives.

Android/iOS are the ones you can’t escape though.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/sstendahl/statuses/116591916673226981https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://floss.social/users/sstendahl/statuses/116591916673226981Sun, 17 May 2026 20:57:42 GMT