Anyone deleted their google account?

[Stadtaffe]

I've had this on my mind for a while. You don't need an account to use their services. The services I use are occasionally search, maps, translate. With my account, I have saved my favourite set of youtube videos and like, dislike things, occasionally comment. Also, I wrote a few reviews for some businesses I got to know personally. They are the only two things I use the account for, no gmail, drive, no documents etc. My android phones have been de-googled for years so I never use the account there anyhow. Oh I did once use the account for an employer to work with google analytics and adwords marketing campaigns, but an employer would provide that usually, not need you to use your own one, and I don't see myself needing adwords personally for the foreseeable future.

The thing is, I worry they are a terrible trojan horse. They have catalogued WiFi networks around the world and are basically thoroughly set up with AI to snoop on people. There's probably worse, I haven't researched it. A while ago I got rid of all photos in my google account. Now I spot more intrusive behaviour in the emails they sent me and other observations and worry it is just the tip of the iceberg.

Has anyone deliberately deleted their google account? For me it would not be a big deal, could live without that youtube account easily. Feel a bit bad that the reviews for those businesses would then vanish, but could move them perhaps to other platforms like Yelp or Tripadvisor. It's not that many anyhow.

When you have an account and log in from time to time, you are obviously completing their data set. Their algorithm has probably already looked at your IP, screen size, user agent, canvas data etc and come up with a good guess of who you are. I will not cease using their services a little just cease having an account and making it easy for them.

Big tech has done unprecedented things recently such as deleting a US president and all kinds of negative unprecedented things are happening, it feels perhaps a bit prudent to cut off from as many of these evils as possible. What do you think?

 

[JayR]

This subject has been covered in other threads, but I think you're right, and your message bears repeating.

I'm dating myself here, but...

...I still remember the day I decided I would never have a Google Account. I had some concert footage of a band I wanted to share with friends, but the video file was too large to email. No problem! Just post it on YouTube, right? When I tried to upload the video file, I was met with "Please sign into your Google Account."

Huh?

Google had recently purchased YouTube, and suddenly you could not freely upload clips to YouTube without signing into a Google account first. I actually clicked through and was ready to sign up for a Google account, but was then greeted with a disclaimer: "By signing up for a Google Account, you will automatically be enrolled in Google Circles..."

"Circles" was Google's attempt to catch up with Facebook -- it failed.

I'm with you, Stadtaffe -- Avoid Google services whenever possible. There are alternatives for everything they offer, and the alternatives are getting better all the time. Don't feed the beast.

I still find it hilarious that Google's motto used to be "Don't Be Evil," but they at some point just retired it, as if to say, "Fine, we're evil."

 

[Stadtaffe]

Actually I think that's how it happened for me - I had a YouTube account then was pushed into having a Google account. Next thing people are asking me to write Google reviews for them.

There are now so many video platforms I'd rather have accounts with them. Have also never uploaded anything significant to YouTube. If I follow through with this, will use the things in Google to download whatever account info they let you take with.

 

[lskdfjldsf]

It's next to impossible to get by without one, especially if you have an Android. I create burner emails, never use them for actual email, disable all ads, and routinely check privacy settings.

 

[redbeard]

It's next to impossible to get by without one, especially if you have an Android. I create burner emails, never use them for actual email, disable all ads, and routinely check privacy settings.

CalyxOS and GrapheneOS would like to have a few words with you.

 

[wayfaringstranger]

keep your google accounts and scrub everything, if only because if you has used them for stuff in the past, they could be reused by hackers especially if it was a [email protected] email.

Keep them off your phone, just log in once in awhile to keep them active.

 

[Coja Petrus Uscan]

I deleted the Google account when I noticed I was now logged into Google Search after I logged into Analytics. That was about 12 years ago.

Also got duped into Android. Getting rid of Android should be the first point-of-call for anyone looking to Google as the tentacles are so pervasive.

I am now down to just using Google for work - AdSense, AdWords, Google Search Console; and unfortunately a Google Pixel phone to run CalyxOS. I also use Google Maps via the browser to find shops. The Google AdSense and AdWords accounts are separate accounts. I have separate browsers that are logged into them that I never use for anything else. Hoping that Brave/BAT will be able to provide me a get out of AdSense. I barely use AdWords.

I don't see the need to have an account for Youtube or anything else. As you say you can use other site for reviews. Youtube comments are a waste of time.

For Maps - Open Street Map is good enough for most uses
Analytics - Matomo
Reviews - TrustPilot...
YouTube - it takes some getting use to having to refresh to get a working instance, but Invidious - use https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/privacy-redirect/pmcmeagblkinmogikoikkdjiligflglb?hl=en
Translate - The same plugin above has some new ones for Translate, but I haven't looked at it; you can also use DeepL or Yandex
Search - Searx, Presearch DuckDuckGo
Drive - Mega.nz (can't go wrong when the CEO says Crooked H killed Seth Rich)
Gmail - Tutanota or Protonmail are preferable but not idea
Chat - Telegram, Signal, Element

You just need to persevere in using the alternatives. A lot of the time the main issue is just getting use to a new interface.

 

[Stadtaffe]

Thanks for the replies, I think it is only a matter of time, and not that much time till my Google account goes.

Youtube comments are a waste of time.

I was actually thinking that myself just recently. Actually, a more sedentary phase of life is well behind me now, for a few years there had gone in a wrong direction, living too long in the wrong city. Got too friendly with the YouTube app on the iPad. I sold the old iPad a while ago anyhow which was originally bought for professional reasons. They have an amazing recommendation engine but for now I have had my fill of music videos, cooking shows, conservative political speeches. Then what, click like / dislike on a video or comment, subscribe to a video. Unhealthy descent, not proud.

I deleted the Google account when I noticed I was now logged into Google Search after I logged into Analytics. That was about 12 years ago.

See, it's deceptive. That kind of stuff provokes some of us enormously.

 

[testingthewaters]

I moved to protonmail to replace gmail. I am very happy with it.

 

[PhatEarf]

I need to. I'm seriously Googlefied. I'm on Google Fi phone service, got a Google pictures account that's tracking all my photos, 2 Gmails because my main account that uses my full name got banned on YouTube for no reason given (I'm a bad boy), and whatever else I have on their cloud. At least I use Brave instead of Chrome. It was way easier to delete FB by a long shot. Google has wormed its way into a lot of what I do.

 

[am82]

I find it more convenient with a google account than without it. I mean, I don't have any sensitive data on it, anyway. Don't think google is interested in stealing 2-3 passwords for a couple of websites.
The only thing that bothers me is youtube. Thisthing is addictive

_______________________________________________________________________
https://thejingstock.com/

 

[Blade Runner]

I think the thing is to just increasingly have less and less presence on there, but keep it. Show them the profile you like - sportsball, comedy, etc etc

Move all the other stuff off and move ahead, move on

 

[Stadtaffe]

It's gone. Got rid of it recently. I downloaded all my data before deleting it and they give you absolutely everything you ever put there!! Anything that was in a Google drive, my reviews from Google Maps were neatly packaged in a JSON file, then my YouTube activity, everything I have ever watched, the timestamp it was watched, any likes, dislikes, comments, channels I was subscribed to - all there in a JSON file. I think you can request what format they give it to you in. They pack it all into Zip files for your to download, some with your uploaded YouTube videos can be very big..

I already apoligised to one of the people whose review is now gone and offered to put it up on another platform for him.

The only thing that bothers me is youtube. Thisthing is addictive

Well, as I mentioned previously, I managed to lose too much time in a certain phase of my life with the YouTube app, but now the account is gone, but I have it all there in Json file, liked videos, channels if I forget. But really don't want to go sitting watching that anymore.

Google is probably the lesser evil anyhow.

I have become aware of a book on this topic How to opt out of the technocratic state, looks interesting.

There is another book I have read parts of, Surveillance Capitalism.

Now, just as I'm off it, someone sends me a link to a document in Google Drive! I click on it and it wants me to login to an account I no longer have to look at it. So I asked them to just email the file, or suggested a different cloud service.

I don't know how this is going to go, there is one's reputation as just being a normal guy not a tin foil hat wearing conspiracy theorist, which could be bad for business, but if I have to make one one day again, will try not to do it for at least a year or so and then use a different email address and feed it nothing, no photos, no phone numbers and maybe even access it through tor so it doesn't see my IP.

 

[The Beast1]

I'm way too deep into my Google account. Have had it since Gmails inception. I've considered switching everything to Microsoft, but I hate their UI. Google's UI is so clean and they made a great effort at organizing disparate data. I bloody hate google.

At the very least, I might move off of Gdrive and create a local file share at home.

 

[Stadtaffe]

I'm way too deep into my Google account. Have had it since Gmails inception. I've considered switching everything to Microsoft, but I hate their UI. Google's UI is so clean and they made a great effort at organizing disparate data. I bloody hate google.

At the very least, I might move off of Gdrive and create a local file share at home.

I never used that stuff, but have heard that they indeed have AI that organises stuff for you. The alternative is to tidy your hard drive just as you tidy your house. I suppose if you are used to a cleaner you don't have to pay who comes and tidies your emails and hard drive it's a bit hard to stop.

I don't know what I'm missing with gmail but am relatively satisfied with Mozilla Thunderbird to organise and search through the email.

Yes, if you need your own cloud there is owncloud which your probably know already. Also some smaller operators other than google drive or dropbox. I don't need clouds, but prefer hard drives with cables coming out of them like tails Still, even with rsync, can't say everything is at all times perfectly backed up, you need a monthly or quarterly routine..

 

[The Beast1]

I never used that stuff, but have heard that they indeed have AI that organises stuff for you. The alternative is to tidy your hard drive just as you tidy your house. I suppose if you are used to a cleaner you don't have to pay who comes and tidies your emails and hard drive it's a bit hard to stop.

I don't know what I'm missing with gmail but am relatively satisfied with Mozilla Thunderbird to organise and search through the email.

Yes, if you need your own cloud there is owncloud which your probably know already. Also some smaller operators other than google drive or dropbox. I don't need clouds, but prefer hard drives with cables coming out of them like tails Still, even with rsync, can't say everything is at all times perfectly backed up, you need a monthly or quarterly routine..

I could pay for Google's shit which they claim they don't datamine but I don't trust them at all. Thunderbird is a great email client, but it isn't an email host. After a certain point, I realized that big data companies know so much more about me than I care to admit that I've gone the opposite direction and make it impossible for them to deliver ads to me that i've just given up on trying to keep my data from being reused.

Google can collect whatever it is they want from me, but if they can't get the ads to my eyeballs then the efficacy of their customer's advertising data collapses. I used to work for a CPG firm where I tried to tell a marketing executive that ad blocking is becoming a significant threat to digital advertising. Guy laughed it off and now he's out of business. Womp womp.

 

[Stadtaffe]

After a certain point, I realized that big data companies know so much more about me than I care to admit that I've gone the opposite direction and make it impossible for them to deliver ads to me that i've just given up on trying to keep my data from being reused.

Well, after about 4 years ago, facebook stopped knowing anything about me and I just put a stop to google doing the same. Another reason to have a degoogled phone, you probably know they snoop on audio otherwise, everyone experiences ads after they have some conversation near their phone.

Using the data though to serve ads is though a lesser evil than where this might lead, namely a social credit system which already partially exists unofficially with deletion of profitable youtube accounts, which also destroys connections between likeminded people and punishing people who express wrongthink in the comments.

The harmless people just exercising free speech that youtube has deleted is enough reason in itself to delete your whole google account.

Something else worth mentioning in this thread is that there are alternatives to google analytics for websites, such as piwik, but probably many more.

 

[testingthewaters]

Got two more accounts over to protonmail. They have just released an update with beta calendar feature as well which is the only thing keeping me on my last remaining gmail address.

 

[EuropeanCanon]

It's next to impossible to get by without one, especially if you have an Android. I create burner emails, never use them for actual email, disable all ads, and routinely check privacy settings.

I went through a long process of de-googling myself, it took ages mainly to change every other account over to my protonmail address. Then of course I found that the android phone work makes me have for been on call basically had to have one, so I reluctantly got another one. I never use the email but I do use the youtube side of it. I hate having anything to do with google and I don't do social media except Telegram, but still, very difficult to get rid of them.

 

[Garuda]

I have one to give to employers, the health care industry and etc.

Google is probably the lesser evil anyhow.

I have become aware of a book on this topic How to opt out of the technocratic state, looks interesting.

There is another book I have read parts of, Surveillance Capitalism.

I'm not so sure about being the lesser evil after it was revealed that it has its own intelligence agency.