I’m certainly more of an exception than a rule regarding those types of relationships, but I use a personal website instead of any social media to publish my projects (I also refer to it when applying to jobs) and frankly don’t give a damn about any childhood friends.

But I can see why, this approach may already be too “radical” for many people.

you’re interested maintaining some sort of connection with them but you don’t have their phone number

Well I’m not an expert on any form of relationships, but why not simply ask for the number?

Very good comic, but what are we gonna do?

Using (FOSS) alternatives* for OS, services or browsers on personal basis only seem to work for a small group of tech enthusiast/nerds while Big Tech keeps increasing its market share.

* assuming the alternatives are actually better in a privacy sense, which isn’t always the case.

Back then, when I was still in academia, I actually put every paper I wrote and the corresponding data/code on my academic website for everyone to download. I can’t understand why this isn’t required for every (publicly funded) researcher!