So, I’ve decided to De‑Google my digital life. Why? Because the enshittification of every corner of Google’s empire is real, and it’s getting worse daily.
1. Shadow‑banned for no reason (even when being polite)
I got shadow‑banned replying politely on YouTube—even my reply had zero curse words. Meanwhile, the original comment (rife with profanity) stayed visible. Google’s censorship is absurd. Python scripts CAN be compiled into binaries… and I was banned for saying so. Welcome to Google’s world.
2. reCAPTCHA: From free to enterprise nightmare
Want a simple reCAPTCHA? Nope—Google now forces you into Enterprise, credit card mandatory. Suddenly, a once‑free staple is locked behind billing info. Thanks, monopoly.
3. Terms-of-service fatigue—every 2 seconds
Every two seconds you’re forced to click “I agree” to arcane, esoteric TOS updates. You’re a user, not a guinea pig for endless legal changes.
4. Ads everywhere—YouTube’s AI‑dog horror show
Ads have become scams—like that stupid AI dog. YouTube warns against ad blockers, yet the user experience is overrun by greedy autoplay ads. Classic enshittification.
5. Gmail + Dark Reader = lag‑fest
Gmail on Windows tanks under Dark Reader. Switch it off—Gmail’s native dark mode is a drab grey. So Google makes you pick between performance and aesthetics. Thanks.
6. Monopoly kills UX
Every monopoly ruins user experience. Google once claimed “Don’t be evil.” Today? It’s “don’t be you.”
Why this isn’t just me—Google’s systemic issues
- Privacy nightmare: Google tracks you everywhere—Search, Maps, Gmail, even off-site via Analytics & AdSense. Even when you’re logged out, Google collects data through cookies, device IDs, and IP tracking. [NYTimes]
- Search results suck: AI summaries, affiliate-spam, hidden ads, and favoritism toward big brands mean fewer genuinely relevant results. [The Verge]
- News feed is broken: Google News is glitchy, overloaded with ads, and now even shows AI-generated articles from shady sources over legitimate journalism. [TechCrunch]
- Algorithmic bias and filter bubbles: Google filters what you see based on engagement, your past behavior, and location, reinforcing echo chambers. [Brookings]
- Enshittification in full effect: Cory Doctorow nailed it—platforms start good, get worse to serve businesses, and finally become unbearable. Google fits this perfectly. [Pluralistic]
- Antitrust drama: The U.S. Department of Justice has sued Google multiple times for abusing its dominance in search, advertising, and mobile OS markets. [DOJ.gov]
Time to #DeGoogle
Privacy‑first tools exist: DuckDuckGo, ProtonMail, Brave/Firefox, Nextcloud, and self‑hosted alternatives. The DeGoogle movement is growing (check Reddit’s r/degoogle)—and for good reason. A growing number of users are actively replacing Google services with open-source or privacy-respecting tools. [Vice: How to DeGoogle Your Life]
If your digital life revolves around Google, you’re in monopoly prison. So I’m breaking free.
Final word
Google used to be “good enough.” Now? It’s slow, ad‑laden, manipulative, fragile, and greedy. The enshittification is real—and I’m done compromising.
Happy de‑Googling.