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+title = "Will I ever be able to stop using my google account?"
+date = 2024-05-08
+draft = false
+description = "Why I still haven't been able to leave the Google ecosystem"
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+
+I created my google account all the way back in 2014.
+
+I came to know about how mega companies like Meta, Google and Microsoft track every single thing that you do and how they violate your privacy. I watched a lot of videos from Youtube channels such as Techlore and The Hated One. 
+
+This all happened in 2020 during the lockdown.
+
+I deleted my instagram account, created a Tutanota and Protonmail account and started to use front-ends for sites like YouTube and Reddit.
+
+But four years later, I still haven't been able to stop using my google account. I had made a decision to slowly migrate from my Google account but that never happened.
+
+### So why haven't I switched?
+
+The answer is simple. It is because of all the apps and services provided by Google are free, easy and convenient to use. 
+
+I am also kind of lazy to do it because the whole switching process doesn't happen with the snap of a finger.
+
+I backup my data on my phone to google drive, store documents and other files in drive, edit documents on Google Docs and store photos on google photos.
+
+But we all know when you are not paying for it, you are the product.
+
+Many of you reading this will probably want to ask me 'Why not just self-host?'
+
+I would really love to self host apps like NextCloud but I just don't have the money to set up a server. 
+
+Buying a rasberry pi in India is expensive and I would also have to spend more money on storage.
+
+Yes, there are free third-party instances of Nextcloud and free cloud storage providers like Mega. But I don't want to use those. If I am going to switch, I want to use software which I have control over.
+
+### Final thoughts
+
+I am just going to keep using my Google account for now. But in the future when I have the money, I will definetly switch to self hosted appplications. It is something that I am very eager to use.
+
+This is day 22 of [#100DaystoOffload](https://100DaystoOffload.com)