Privacy Is Still Alive: Small Steps Matter More Than You Think
Posted Apr 28, 2025 01:31 PM
Privacy, though, is a subject that has been argued about nowadays with an air of inevitability — as if there is no other option but to sacrifice all personal privacy.This negative thought has mainly two forms, and both are ominous for the future of data privacy.
The first school of thought: "Privacy is dead."
This strand of thought believes there is no point in trying to protect one’s personal information.
If enough people feel so, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But history has shown that our rights were protected by someone. Not only do we have them naturally, but they are also protected.
Retreats mean defeat. Fight, even if fearful, means success.
We must remember:
All human right that exists today has survived because people cared enough to resist.
Privacy will only continue to exist if people and groups stand in its defense, promote it, and work on its behalf.
The second mentality: "If it's not perfect, it's worthless."
This mindset seems more demanding, yet it is equally destructive.
The statement promotes the idea that anything less than a completely private tool, app, or practice is not worth supporting.
This hopelessness creates and discourages better privacy practices.
It is a good idea to aspire for a purposeful cause – it could be striving for strong encryption, ethical software, transparency, and choice about what happens with our data.
But it is also important to realize that privacy improvement happens in steps, not in leaps.
Perfection is not necessary to be useful.
Criticism vs. Improvement:
I'm not wrong to say that fake marketing, fake "protection" devices, and dangerous lies all need to be called out and condemned. Snake oil must be condemned, loudly and publicly.
But we need to know the difference between helpful criticism and discouraging good, but not perfect, efforts.
When someone makes a step in the right direction, however small, they deserve encouragement and celebration.
Example:
Imagine one of your friends shifting from the old SMS to Session or Signal for their communication.
That’s a big improvement! End-to-end encryption is now protecting your messages.
The wrong response: Criticizing and telling him that “But you are still using Windows, so why does it really matter?”
Well done! Good for them. Impose a penalty on them and reward them for learning and implementing more privacy features.
Another example:
Someone expressed their enthusiasm for discovering an outstanding VPN service, or moving from Gmail to ProtonMail.
Sure, the new software that they have developed might not be perfect. Perhaps it could have some minor issues.
The incorrect approach: to criticize straight away and start quoting all of its errors.
Invite them in. Praise their work. If the timing is right, suggest refined options to their tools.
Why this is important:
When individuals are celebrated for early triumphs, they are more likely to keep up the good performance they’ve started.
When people are criticized for early wins, they retreat — and often go back to unsafe, Big Tech-controlled platforms.
Privacy is Cultural:
Privacy is a cultural norm, not just a technical one.
Cultures come about through time, through habits of small things, through mindsets that share values, and through support — not through gatekeeping and shaming.
We need a strong privacy culture that encourages people every step of the way.
A culture where every little victory is acknowledged.
A culture where progress, rather than mockery, is celebrated.
In the meantime, cultivate the people around you.
Celebrate when your co-worker installs a password manager.
Urge when a family member starts using a privacy-conscious browser.
Support when a friend quits invasive platforms for better ones.
Small changes add up.
Tomorrow's move to Signal means today's move to encrypted mail.
Yesterday a VPN, tomorrow an OS that's Linux.
Privacy grows under the influence of optimism, love, and unity but not threats and conflict.
In Conclusion:
Privacy will be safe as long as we protect it.
Perfection is not required to make good progress.
Every step counts.
Every victory should be celebrated.
Every forward step supports a culture of privacy that safeguards not only our rights but those of future generations.
Celebrate every privacy win, however small.
That is how we win.
