From: Mark Markin
To: Whom it may interest
Date: 12 June 2024
Subject: TO ESSENTIALITY AND BEYOND

Because of several recent scandals related to AI, privacy, user data leaks, and more, I have decided to begin a gradual transition to my own website domain. I have noticed that I cannot—and sincerely have no interest in—keeping up with the search for yet another social network or community-based space. Until now, both old and new platforms have played too much with my trust.

However, I still find Instagram (and many other media-related platforms) useful, and I will continue to use them, but with a handful of precautions. To "opt-out" or not accept conditions is only a temporary cure for the symptoms and does not address the root of the problem. All this gaslighting has made me think about building a safe space for my content.

Creating this website is not just about escaping the social media monopoly; it's about reclaiming my digital identity. I aim to cultivate a space where my outputs are protected and presented in a manner aligned with my values. As a technology enthusiast and web surfer, I am extremely aware of digital privacy, data harvesting, and advertisement. This is why I want this space to be a true "safe space"—simply a website. No trackers, no cookies, no analytics. Just HTML, CSS, and maybe JavaScript.

In this space, I plan to share my outputs, offering a more personal, direct, non-invasive, and ethical connection with my audience. I am also committing to sustainability by running the site fossil-free, reflecting my broader environmental values. This means leveraging renewable energy sources for hosting and minimising the carbon footprint of my digital presence.

Transitioning to this model will undoubtedly come with challenges. However, I believe the benefits of having a secure, autonomous online presence far outweigh these hurdles.

I would be glad to know what you think about this matter or if you have any tips or tricks to help me with this transition. Feel free to write to me here if you're up for a conversation!

I hope to see you here soon!

Yours permanently impermanent,
MM

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“Adobe gets sued by FTC...“ — Louis Rossmann
“Build One Website“ — James Ellis
“A website is a machine you leave outside” — James Ellis