Blog
May 31, 2025

Why I Left Amazon, Twitter, and Meta—And What I Gained

For a long time, I thought I needed them:

Amazon for convenience.
Twitter for connection.
Meta (Facebook and Instagram) for visibility.

As a small business owner and creative, these platforms seemed essential. But over time, I grew more aware of their ethical and mental health costs.

What Pushed Me to Leave

The turning point came as I learned more about the dark side of Big Tech. Reports like The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook Files exposed how Facebook knowingly harmed mental health—especially for teens. Investigations into Amazon’s surveillance of workers and customers revealed just how far the data extraction goes. And Twitter’s ongoing struggles with content moderation and algorithmic bias (even before and after ownership changes) left me uneasy.

As someone who values authenticity and responsibility, staying felt like complicity.

It wasn’t easy. I’m not a risk-taker by nature. I like routines and systems. But I knew I needed out—for my mental health, for my business, and for the people I serve.

Taking Back Control

I decided to quit Amazon, Twitter, and Meta/Instagram. In their place, I built my own website using privacy-conscious tools and open-source platforms. No algorithms deciding what people see. No third-party tracking pixels embedded in everything. Just a clean, ethical space where I could share, sell, and connect on my terms.

If you’re interested in doing something similar, you might check out:

  • Ghost – an open-source blogging platform focused on privacy and performance

  • Plausible Analytics – a simple, GDPR-compliant alternative to Google Analytics

  • IndieWeb – a movement encouraging people to own their online presence

  • DuckDuckGo – a search engine that doesn’t track you

What I Learned (and Gained)

I discovered very quickly that I didn’t need Amazon after all. I started sourcing more from local businesses and ethically aligned platforms like Books.by, Bookshop.org, and Thrive Market.

Leaving these tech giants has been surprisingly liberating. Not only is my mental health better, but my creativity has also returned. I no longer feel drained from constant notifications, algorithmic comparison, or data-collection anxiety. It’s been one of the most cleansing choices I’ve ever made.

The Indie Fantasy Writer Parallel

As an indie fantasy writer, the decision to walk away from Big Tech and do things my own way was more than personal—it was poetic.

Fantasy, at its core, is about worldbuilding. It's about imagining new systems, better structures, and more honest magic. Why not carry that same spirit into how I share my work?

Being indie means I don’t have to rely on gatekeepers. I get to decide what kind of stories I tell and how I connect with readers. It means building community based on shared values rather than algorithms. It means being free to experiment, create, and grow—without trading privacy or integrity for reach.

I believe in building something real, something rooted in mutual respect between writer and reader. And I’d love to invite you into that world.

Join Me on the Journey

If this resonates with you—whether you're a fellow creative, a reader who values indie work, or just someone seeking a more intentional digital life—I'd love to stay connected:

👉 Subscribe to my newsletter for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and original stories you won’t find anywhere else.
👉 Check out my latest fiction on my site—no logins, no tracking, just stories made with care.
👉 Or drop me a message—I love hearing from thoughtful readers and like-minded rebels.

Let’s keep imagining better worlds. And let’s build them, too.

#DigitalDetox #PrivacyMatters #IndieBusiness #MentalHealthAwareness #OwnYourPlatform