The Rise of Digital Hygiene
Posted: Sat May 24, 2025 6:23 am
Just as we brush our teeth to prevent decay, digital hygiene is about preventing the erosion of privacy, mental health, and attention. The notion includes habits like clearing cookies, using VPNs, enabling two-factor authentication, reviewing app permissions, and minimizing screen time. Yet, as surveillance becomes more pervasive and less visible, some individuals are taking it further: they're practicing tech minimalism.
Tech minimalism advocates reducing one’s digital footprint and reliance on technology to regain autonomy, focus, and control. For some, it means ditching social media or removing unnecessary apps. For others, it’s as radical as switching to a dumbphone or carrying no phone at all.
Case Study: The Digital Dropouts
Take the example of "digital dropouts"—a term used to describe vietnam phone number list people who have intentionally removed themselves from mainstream digital ecosystems. These individuals often cite data privacy, mental clarity, and freedom from algorithmic manipulation as their primary motivations.
John, a 34-year-old former software engineer, now uses a minimalist phone that allows only calls and SMS. "I realized my smartphone was a tracking device with a communication feature, not the other way around," he says. "The data it was collecting on me was scary. I didn't want to live under constant surveillance."
Such individuals often live by strict rules: no location sharing, no cloud backups, no voice assistants, and no app ecosystems that require constant updates. They may use offline maps, encrypted email services, and even carry Faraday pouches to block signals.
Tech minimalism advocates reducing one’s digital footprint and reliance on technology to regain autonomy, focus, and control. For some, it means ditching social media or removing unnecessary apps. For others, it’s as radical as switching to a dumbphone or carrying no phone at all.
Case Study: The Digital Dropouts
Take the example of "digital dropouts"—a term used to describe vietnam phone number list people who have intentionally removed themselves from mainstream digital ecosystems. These individuals often cite data privacy, mental clarity, and freedom from algorithmic manipulation as their primary motivations.
John, a 34-year-old former software engineer, now uses a minimalist phone that allows only calls and SMS. "I realized my smartphone was a tracking device with a communication feature, not the other way around," he says. "The data it was collecting on me was scary. I didn't want to live under constant surveillance."
Such individuals often live by strict rules: no location sharing, no cloud backups, no voice assistants, and no app ecosystems that require constant updates. They may use offline maps, encrypted email services, and even carry Faraday pouches to block signals.