I imagine if you wanted to 100% stop buying or using products from FANNG (+Microsoft & Twitter) it would be impossible without doing anything short of living completely off the grid.

Imagine, you ditch your smartphone. You switch to Linux. You stop using _search engines_ because all of them use Google or Bing in the backend. You abandon Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, GitHub, and Gmail. Before you go to a website, how do you know if they are going to load an asset from AWS or GApps? Maybe the server loads an asset from AWS and redistributes it to you, so you can’t just blacklist IPs. How do you know if your Bank’s ATMs are using AWS? Or your hospital’s digital records? Eventually someone you do business with will do business with FANG and you’ll be indirectly supporting them.

I don't believe in "vote with your wallet" kinda dogmas. I mean watch the news right now..

We need regulation and government investment in open tech and software. The App/Play Store are anti-competitive, but Apple and Google have a Duopoly in the mobile market. There can and should be rules regarding this. I don't see how they should be even allowed to profit off these markets. Like at all. Every app there increases the value of their platforms by itself.

Even if you use F-Droid, you then have to compromise on security deeply embedded into the Android OS.

Platforms should be allowed to be repairable, open and documented and users should be allowed to do whatever they please with them.

The market won't fix this. You need to become politically active.

I’m not typically one to “vote with my wallet”, and I think it’s very impractical to do so with all of big tech.

I do however tend to buy products and services that align with my values and shy away from products and services that go against my values. For example, I’d be more inclined to buy a Tesla and install home solar panels then I would be to buy a VW because Tesla is emissions free and VW lied on their emissions tests. VW lost some long term customers because of that incident and Tesla is continuing to attract new buyers that are concerned with climate change. Due to this trend we are able to deploy more electric vehicles then government regulations require.

Tesla right now is ignoring worker rights in Germany. They will learn like Wallmart before, that you cannot roll the same shit here, as you do in America.

Elon Musk is the richest person on the planet. You really do not need to prefer either of those companies for anything but the products they sell. Your decision does not matter.

What matters is single entities like Musk, VW, Bezos, Wallstreet and Gates not having the undemocratic mandate to form the world to their liking, "good" or bad. Nobody should have that much power.

If you want to change the world with money, invest in those who consider having 100$ or 1000$ more or less life changing. Pay for FOSS, invest in local communities. Strengthen the collective.

I have been actively trying to distance myself from unnecessary technology, and especially that which is owned and controlled by Big Tech. I now use a "dumbphone". I have begun slowly migrating to ProtonMail. I have already been using Linux as a main OS on desktop. I do still use a Macbook Pro only because the 2015 version I have just won't die (touch wood), but my next laptop purchase would be with the aim of installing Linux (high-end Thinkpad perhaps). I don't use any form of social media, but instead arrange social events through phone calls, texts, and email. None of this has made my life more difficult. On the contrary, I talk to people more often, commit to more social engagements, and feel more in control of my digital life. I highly recommend everybody to at least try some of these things!