What Will Cause You to Stop Using Services Like Google and Facebook?

If there are two tech companies that have their share of detractors lately, it’s Google and Facebook. For the most part it relates to privacy issues and data. Many people seem to have lost trust in them.

However, they both still have plenty of users. Even though people know all the problems, they keep using them. At what point will people leave though? What will cause you to stop using services like Google and Facebook?

Our Opinion

Miguel explains that if something less censorious and mainstream pops up, it would cause him to stop using Facebook and Google. However, for right now he believes that “networks that are dedicated to freedom of expression are either on the fringe, poorly developed, or (more often than not) a combination of both.” He knows it’s bound to change but believes that road is long.

Sayak already stopped using Facebook in mid-2017, or rather he stopped posting and updating, but he still sends birthday wishes. He asked all his contacts to stay in touch through other means. It was gradual for him, as he’d already minimized his usage over the previous three years. Once he saw his “Facebook archives” information, he was shocked how much information Facebook was storing about him.

“The point is they never delete the information, which they should.” But with Google, they have an option to scrub all your records: “Delete My Activity.” Additionally, you can opt to not upload your pictures to Google photos. He sees more of a choice there.


Alex stopped using Facebook after the Cambridge Analytica leak, but it was really just the proximate cause for him. The bigger issue to him was “a lack of interest in their service.” He figures he only logged in once every three months, and he hated that he had to “keep up” with yet another stream of news. Additionally, the people who are on there the most are the people he’s the least interested in hearing from.

The only thing that would push him away from Google would be “the total failure of functionality and utility in their services. He just can’t imagine having email if it weren’t for Gmail. He challenges others to try using iCloud email and says, “You’ll remember what the bad old days were like pretty dang quick!”

While Andrew finds both services easy and intuitive, the main reason he’s not leaving is because “there is just no viable alternative.” If it were just social media, he could take or leave Facebook, but he uses it to connect with communities, interest groups, and long-distance family.

Google is the same. He’s tried the other map apps, and they just can’t compare with details and the scope of the service. While Bing is a good search alternative, “the integration of so many different services of Google just makes it so easy to keep using it.” Ultimately, the biggest reason he’d leave would be no viable alternative for those services.

Chris figures if he deleted both his Facebook and Google accounts, that they already know so much about him that “in order to get out from underneath the advertising data” they’ve already collected on him, he would have to change everything about his personality and interests. “They’ve already got my number pegged at this point, so why even bother worrying about what they’re going to collect tomorrow or the day after?”


Phil says, “If Facebook gets any more fiddly, hard to use, and buggy,” he’ll seriously consider stopping his use of it. He finds the web/mobile app to be so crappy. But, he has nothing to replace it with, as it’s connected to so many of his friends.

For Afam it’s quite simple. If he is sure he has a replacement, then he may consider it. Until then, “Facebook, for example, still gives me the kind of social connectivity I have not found in any other social network,” so he remains put.

Kenneth doesn’t think he’ll be leaving Google any time soon. He’s tried Bing and Yahoo and finds them both to be lacking in many aspects. He can’t say the same for Facebook, though. So many of his friends’ accounts have been hacked and their personal information used for fraudulent activities. “I will quit Facebook for good the day my account is hacked.”

Google is just so easy to use and suits me. For me to stop using their search feature, it would have to not be so convenient. With Facebook, like others here, I have too many connections on there to leave. If I lost that, I would probably reconsider.

Your Opinion

How do you feel about Facebook and Google? Would you consider leaving them? What would lead you to make the move? What will cause you to stop using services like Google and Facebook? Leave your thoughts about this topic in the comments.


  1. I never used Facebook and I only use GMail. As soon as I get a round tuit, I will switch to Proton or GMX. Unfortunately that will not help FB and Google from Gathering data on me (and everybody else). I Those two (and I assume many other companies) gather harvest their data about us by scraping any and all information available on the Internet.

  2. “Additionally, the people who are on there the most are the people he’s the least interested in hearing from.” You got that right. It’s a bunch of marching morons. Just watch Jerry Springer once to see the sort of users they attract. I use G+ just to stay up with professional geeks and subscribe to several Linux tech lists (text mode ONLY and no top posting). I use Google as they were a very early adopter of Linux and I knowingly made a pact with the devil ….free stuff in exchange for personal info that is out there anyway. Gmail works a charm for me.

  3. I’d not touch Facebook with the proverbial ten-foot pole. On the other hand, I’d have a hard time eschewing such Google services as Gmail and Google Docs and, Google itself, although I sometimes use other search engines such as DuckDuckGo. I use Firefox as my standard browser, and turn off third-party cookies from sites I’ve not visited there, I also use Ublock Origin, Privacy Badger, and NoCoin…


  4. What will make me leave? The inability to customize what I see on social networking websites and make each experience my own. I do everything possible to block advertisements and recommendations. I am a hard sell. I know what I want, so get out of my way! Haha.

    That said, social networking websites may have the right to free speech (advertising, recommendations, etc) but it does not automatically guarantee them an audience or the right to be seen/heard. Until they recognize that, and get over their inflated sense of self-importance, we will continue to have this debate.

    P. S. I made my own pact with the devil long ago. I am left-handed.

  5. Have never used
    facebook (or snapchat, pinterest, etc). Google has gotten to the point that I am seriously looking at alternatives. They have strayed far from their original mantra of do no harm.

  6. Facebook attempts to take over your life. Have deactivated my account prior to closing it completely. Haven’t missed it at all. All my friends have other means of contacting me.

  7. I have FB. But I don’t use it. Much. I have family and friends who I stay in touch with, but not constant enough for this to be a problem for me. As for the data FB has on me?…they’re welcome to it. as I’ve not updated any of it since…..I think about 2012? As for Google I have GMail. and I do have G+ but the latter I almost never use. as for GMail? Since I use Linux?…and funnel all my mail through Thunderbird? I don’t get the ads one would if they were using a browser. And the day that stops?…is the day I “kill” my Gmail account. Other than those, I’m not “out there” on Twitter…InstaGram…Pinterest…etc. Not so self-centered that I need to plaster my entire life to the world, and just not interested in keeping up with modern trends, music, or the most-often-than-not-frivolous, and completely irrelevant topics of society today.

  8. I was done with Facebook this year. I still have my Goodreads account send over my book reviews, but that’s it. As far as Google, I’m not sure what could make me leave. I have 5 (6? 7?) gmail accounts and use Google wifi, home, Pixel phone and tablet and a nest camera. That’s a lot of accounts to unravel. In addition, Google Assistant has become my best friend.

    For me, the issue is more a matter of trust. I feel like I know how Google wants to use my information–I don’t get the same feeling from Facebook

  9. I left Facebook a long time ago. I didn’t want to wait until my account was hacked, I’m sure all of Facebook users data has been sold many times over. I’d love a way to keep up with family and friends just not at the cost of receiving robo-calls and spam email.

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