January 2025 - Data Minimalism: Taking Control of Your Digital Footprint

You’ve probably heard of digital minimalism. It’s a focus on reducing screen time, limiting social media use, and being more intentional about how much you are using technology. I first came across the concept in Cal Newport’s book “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” and I highly recommend the practice. 

Recently though, I'm starting to find that another form of digital intentionality is equally important: data minimalism. Instead of digital minimalism’s focus on disconnecting from the digital world, data minimalism is about being mindful of what personal information we share within it. 

In this post I’ll be sharing more on what data minimalism is, why it’s more important than ever, how I practice it, and most importantly, how you can get started too.

As simplified as possible: What is data and why should you care about it?

I know, I know, data is one of those words that immediately makes people’s eyes glaze over. It feels technical, complicated, and intangible. Whenever people talk about things like data and privacy, it’s difficult to really muster up the energy to pay attention (I’ve worked in tech my whole adult life, and I even feel this way). But in the age of AI it’s more important than ever to be mindful of your data because it will have increasing effects on everything in our lives – from our finances to the environment.

My quick definition

Data is any information about you that can be collected and stored. Amongst other things, this data can be personal (age, location, email address), transactional (purchase history), behavioral/engagement (browsing history, likes, views, clicks), or unstructured (photos or videos you share . Every digital action leaves a trace, creating what is called your "digital footprint." 

Why you should care

While it's easy to dismiss individual pieces of data as harmless, when combined and analyzed, this digital footprint can be used in ways that directly impact your life - both now and in the future. Here are the three main concerns I have about who has access to my data:

1. Companies try to sell me stuff with increasing accuracy - Some people may appreciate targeted ads because they help surface relevant products and deals that match their actual interests and needs, saving time they'd otherwise spend searching for those items. I personally don’t like them because they manipulate me into scrolling for longer and ultimately spending money on things I don't really need, while creating pressure to accumulate more possessions that may not actually improve my life.

2. Criminals can use my data to steal my identity or money - Personal information stolen through data breaches or device hacks can be used for identity theft, fraudulent credit accounts, and targeted scams like impersonation that can do a lot of damage in your life. The increasing number of smart home devices collecting and uploading data to the cloud only amplifies this risk. There’s already very little transparency about what companies do with your video doorbell, robot vacuum, or smart speaker recordings, but now imagine what might happen if this content falls into the wrong hands. 

3. Future uses of my data are unpredictable - While I may trust today's institutions and policies, my data could be used in concerning ways as technology evolves. Companies might use my photos and voice recordings to create deepfake content for marketing (Meta already silently added a consent clause that gives permission to use anything uploaded to their servers as training data for AI), insurance companies could use health tracking data to penalize "unhealthy" behaviors with higher premiums, and governments could leverage personal data for surveillance and control - ultimately, what seems like harmless data today could be used to influence or manipulate me in ways I never consented to. 

As a sidenote - the computing power of all of our collective data generation and use has a carbon footprint larger than the airline industry. Which means that our internet usage is a lot more damaging than most of us realize. If you’re interested in reading more about the environmental impacts of “The Cloud,” I highly recommend this article by Steven Gonzalez Monserrate. 

These concerns might feel overwhelming, after all, it seems impossible to completely avoid creating a digital footprint in today's world. That's where data minimalism comes in. Just as digital minimalism helps us be more intentional about our screen time and technology use, data minimalism provides a framework for being more thoughtful about what personal information we share online and how we protect it.

What is data minimalism?

Data Minimalism: a practice of collecting, storing, and using only the minimal amount of data necessary to achieve specific goals, prioritizing privacy, security, and ethical data management.

Data minimalism should be how companies handle our data. Unfortunately, having lots of data helps companies make money, and since how companies collect, store, and use our data is not very regulated, it’s up to us to protect ourselves. 

For me, practicing as an individual, data minimalism means being intentional about sharing only the data I need to share to achieve specific goals, prioritizing privacy and security. I will caveat this by saying: at this point in time there is no way to participate in current society without sharing data. Banks, governments, insurance/phone/electricity/water/security companies, and basically any place you have ever bought something from using anything other than cash has data on you. 

This is not to scare you, it’s just to let you know that data is part of life now so it’s still normal to give out your data. My data minimalism practice is about being mindful about my data habits. Just like when you practice minimalism in the home, it’s not about owning nothing or never buying anything again, it’s about being intentional about what you bring into your life.

How I practice data minimalism

Like I said, it’s basically impossible to not give away any data, especially if you spend any time on the internet. What I am about to share are the places I am paying attention just a little more.

Shopping, subscriptions, and downloads

Use fake-ish information when filling out forms - In order to stay as “anonymous” as possible, I use aliases whenever possible. Unless it's for legal or financial purposes, I avoid using my real name, actual birthday, or primary email address. For most services, a username, birth year, and alternate email work just fine. I only fill out required fields (*) and leave everything else blank. As a sidenote: forms will save info without you even having to “submit” the information (this is how you get those “you left something in your cart” emails). Try to not create accounts and avoid logging in whenever you can.

Shop online less - Every time you buy something online you share all sorts of information like shipping/billing/contact info (on top of what ads drove you to the website, what you looked at, and bought). We have now reached a stage where online stores have put in-person stores out of business, so we often don’t have a choice but to buy online, just use caution, and always ask yourself whether you truly need the thing you are buying. On the one hand, buying everything with one retailer makes it so your

Delete online accounts - Whenever it comes up, I delete online accounts I no longer use. It usually comes up through a “We’ve updated our Terms and Conditions” email, but I’ve also been using a password manager for so long that all my accounts are conveniently listed in one place, so I’ll walk through that once in a while too. Increasingly companies have buttons to download/delete your data and then delete your account. If they don’t, I email the companies using the email address they have on file for me to request all my data+account be deleted and to confirm they have done so. They don’t always cooperate, but more often than not they do. 

Social media practices

Confuse the algorithm - When using social media I like to throw in a random search term or like/bookmark a couple of videos or images that are completely irrelevant to me and I keep my browsing history turned off where I can (on YouTube for example). This means the profile these companies have on me is not accurate, making it so targeted ads don’t actually appeal to me, and then I don’t get as tempted to buy stuff I don’t actually need. The added benefit of this is that spending time on the internet is just not as fun. This makes everything way less addictive and so it's easier to unplug.

Think twice before sharing photos/videos - I'm extremely selective about sharing photos and videos online, especially of other people. I always ask permission before posting someone else's image, even if they have an active online presence, and I never share photos of children. Once it's uploaded, it can be saved, shared, and stored indefinitely. Remember: today's cute baby photo is tomorrow's digital footprint that the child never consented to. 

Settings and permissions 

Check privacy settings - I check privacy settings on my most active internet accounts like Instagram, Amazon, Whatsapp, and Google. They have a habit of changing settings on their own when you accept new terms and conditions. In general, if you don’t pay money for something, you’re probably paying them with data (although in the case of Amazon and a lot of other companies, you’re probably doing both). Whenever you can, delete any histories and caches, also on your browser, this deletes cookies too.

Check device permissions - Apps often ask for blanket access to your camera, location, photos, and microphone. Instead of granting permanent access, look for options to enable these only while using specific features. For example, a fitness app only needs your location during workouts, not 24/7.

Going a little deeper 

Research sensitive data policies - I thoroughly review privacy and data management practices before sharing sensitive information like health records, financial details, or government IDs. Look for how data is protected, stored, and shared with third parties. If a privacy policy is vague or hard to find, that's a red flag. For extremely sensitive data, I prefer services that offer local storage rather than keeping everything in the cloud. 

Be wary of smart devices - I severely limit smart devices in my life. Smart speakers, cameras, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices are constantly collecting data about our lives with little to no transparency. Anything that needs to be connected to the internet to function, is going to be sharing data somehow. Most of us keep the worst offender (our phone) on us at all times, but in my personal opinion having fewer smart devices around means fewer privacy settings to be paying attention to, and as a bonus, fewer things that can break. 

Getting started with data minimalism

Starting a data minimalism journey doesn't mean you need to go off the grid tomorrow. Instead, think of it as building a new habit, start small, be consistent, and focus on progress rather than perfection. Here's how to begin:

Start with an audit - Choose one area to focus on first. This might be reviewing your phone's app permissions, cleaning up old online accounts, or checking the privacy settings on your most-used social media accounts. Pick whatever feels most manageable to you.

Set clear boundaries - Decide what information you're comfortable sharing online. Create some basic rules for yourself, like "I won't share photos of other people without permission" or "I'll use an alias email for newsletter signups." Having these guidelines makes future decisions much easier.

Build sustainable habits - Rather than trying to do everything at once, focus on creating lasting habits. Maybe start by checking privacy settings once a month, or pausing to question whether you really need to fill out every field in a form. Small, consistent actions add up over time.

This is not about becoming a digital hermit; it's to be more intentional about your data. Choose an approach that works for your lifestyle and that you can maintain long-term. Remember: any step toward better data privacy is a step in the right direction.

The benefits I've experienced

My journey into data minimalism didn't start with a privacy breach or a scary headline. Instead, it began when I noticed how eerily effective targeted ads had become. I found myself making more impulse purchases than ever before. This realization led me to think more about my digital footprint. Every shopping account, newsletter signup, and app download had collected pieces of my life. Now that I’m more mindful of my data sharing practices:

In my daily life:

• I’m shopping less again (free from hyper-targeted advertising)

• I have less digital clutter to manage

• I feel more in control of my online presence

For my future:

• I’m more confident about my online security

• I worry less about how my data might be used in the future

• I better understand what information exists about me online

Most importantly, I've regained a sense of control over my digital identity. Just as I carefully choose what to share about myself in real-life conversations, I now bring more thoughtfulness to my online interactions. While a single piece of information might seem harmless today, we don't know how data could be used or combined in the future. Being minimal now gives me peace of mind later.

Final thoughts

Data minimalism isn't about paranoia or completely withdrawing from the digital world, it's about being intentional with your personal information, just as you might be intentional with your time or possessions. The tech industry has masterfully packaged data collection as convenience, and while it often does make our lives easier, we rarely consider the trade-offs.

Think about it: for Siri to hear "Hey Siri," it needs to be constantly listening. For you to check on your pets through your phone, that video feed needs to be processed and stored somewhere. Every "smart" feature comes with a data cost, and that cost compounds over time.

The reality is that our data's impact on our lives will only grow. What feels inconsequential today could have significant implications tomorrow. We can't predict how our data might be used (or misused) in the future, or who might eventually have access to it. That cute video you shared, that smart device you installed, that quiz you took, each leaves a digital trace that's increasingly difficult to erase.

But here's the good news: you don't need to be a tech expert to practice data minimalism and your practice does not have to be perfect. You just need to start asking questions: Does this really need to be connected to the internet? Do I need to share this information? Who else might have access to this data?

Start small, build sustainable habits, and find an approach that works for you. You can absolutely enjoy the benefits of our connected world while maintaining healthy boundaries around your personal information. 

I recognize the irony of writing about data minimalism while being a content creator whose work exists because people share and engage online (not to mention that you are most likely reading this through my newsletter). But this actually reinforces my point: data sharing isn't about all-or-nothing. It's about making conscious choices about when and what we share, rather than sharing everything by default.

If you're interested in learning more about why your data matters, I highly recommend watching "The Social Dilemma" documentary. For a deeper understanding of how our data shapes the modern economy, check out "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism."

Let's make 2025 the year we get serious about data minimalism. Your future self will thank you.