Let’s divest from big tech!
meeting this Thursday from 2-3 PST
Let’s meet over the next 3 Thursdays to support each other as we divest from Big Tech. This is a free meet-up for queer and fierce queer accomplice business owners.
Thursday 2-3: click this Zoom registration link: https://bit.ly/queerconnection and email me with any questions.
This can be an ongoing conversation, but I am launching it this week and holding 3 more queer connection sessions each Thursday.
You might have been to my “queer church” meet-up last year. Or my political meet-up in 2024. I am a fan of free video meetups, so there are many options to connect. Let’s support each other in getting free from big tech in our businesses.
In this space, we will not judge; it is a group centered on compassion, and all people’s questions and ideas are valued. No matter where you are in your small business journey, you are welcome. If you are a former client and you run your own business, message me to see if this is a good fit for you.
My questions: How can we divest from big tech as small business owners, and why? Happy to chat more about my reasoning on Thursday. This is a great place to start if you don’t already know this creator: https://www.liberationtoolbox.io/break-up-with-big-tech-to-break-them/
Here are some things I have done this year.
1) Move from Hushmail to Proton Mail (I loved Hushmail, but Proton has more options that I wanted to use)
2) For activist meetings, I mostly use:
https://jitsi.org/ (always free)
3) Use a VPN, as often as I can
4) De-Googling – divest from Google (no Chrome) - no google drives for my personal business
5) Use crypt pad instead of google doc’s, but also Proton has a drive (woo hoo). Not sure that Proton is as safe?
6) No Safari or Chrome - use alternative browsers –
Tor
https://www.torproject.org/download
Brave (we can talk about what I just learned about how to switch back and forth between these two browsers)
7) I switched from Simple Practice to Sessions Health because S.P. seemed not to be fully honest about how it trains AI, and Sessions is less expensive. From Sessions Health: “You can choose not to use AI features on your account. Sessions Health takes an opt-in or opt-out approach, which means no AI is used within your account unless you decide to enable it. We’re currently only in beta testing, but after beta, we will always give you the right to choose whether to use AI in your account. “
8) AI issues - I don’t think AI is completely evil. I don’t think you are a bad person for using AI. I am just trying very hard NOT to use it because of the environmental issues, and because of the way it is unregulated, my understanding is that it can be transphobic and racist.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/stories/2024/07/racism-and-ai-bias-past-leads-bias-future
9) I left Psychology Today again, as they platform for so many VC-backed therapy groups, and their centering of white thin models over the years has continued even though they have been called out so many times. However, NO shame or shade, we all must be where we need to be to market ourselves. I take a harm reduction model.
Here are some other miscellaneous ideas.
https://jitsi.guide/blog/jitsi-vs-zoom
Info for activists: at this point, you might be wondering whether I am a therapist or an activist. Yes.
Happy to unpack that more on Thursday.
Use Signal for most chats.
I still use SMS on my Apple Phone to schedule clients, but I may switch soon. TBD.
Questions I have:
Is Notion a “good company”
Is Substack (I already know this answer, and I have stayed since I don’t give them any money).
Is Squarespace a “good company”
Can I use Meta products while staying safe enough, even if I’m mostly off social media? I am thinking about Facebook groups where I think I get clients, but do I really?
Some writing and ideas for becoming more political, if you need them:
https://bit.ly/getinvolved2026
Words about fighting for Trans Youth Healthcare and the Joy and Pain of this moment.
One more meeting you might enjoy:
https://www.bridgetbertrand.com/cultivate Tuesdays 12-1 PST - cultivate some time to create!
Thank you for reading. Reach out and say hi!
Solidarity!
Bridget Bertrand (any pronouns with love)
Expressive Arts Facilitator, Mindfulness Instruction, and Therapist
📞 650-539-4325
📧 bridget@bridgetbertrand.com
🌐 www.bridgetbertrand.com
Licenses:
LMFT 83020 (CA) | Telehealth 100.0134497 (VT) | Telehealth TPMF1773 (FL)
Paying land tax to:
https://sogoreate-landtrust.org/
Sign up for my blog: https://www.bridgetbertrand.com/blog
Intentional divestment is a serious governance choice. I respect the clarity and discipline behind it. Building infrastructure that aligns with your values takes real work.