I found this easier than expected. I was already in the habit of not using my main personal account for online signups etc - just for friends and family. So i setup forwarding for the important contacts first. If I get a fwded mail i make sure I respond from the new one so they have it . There were still some services using gmail - utility companies etc. I switched each of those to other addresses using a redirector - at first simplelogin , now hide my email (but probably going to switch again). I left the gmail live for now. Downloaded everything using GoogleTakeaway. I havent yet closed it down so not sure what that involves yet, but Im not dependent on it now.

It might seem daunting at first, but get started and gradually move stuff to your new address. It does sound like you live in a place where this might be easier said than done saying that. Maybe the gmail address stays live only with a few final gov services (dont forget to filter and fwd them).

How do you install and use Insta without participating in Insta Bullshit? Im in a similar situation to OP and dont want this invasive cancerous tracking riddled stuff on my device. Obviously my solution has been to not install it , so far. But are you suggesting it Can be used in some sort of sandboxed / ringfenced way but where its msging still works?

Which Pixel is that out of interest ?

As there’s been a few mentions of apple/ios in the thread : https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/parent-disclosure/

There are several concerning, though unsurprising things to note, considering they collect data themselves, and have their own growing ad business :

“We may also use their information for internal purposes such as auditing, data analysis, and research.”

“ Strategic Partners At times, Apple may make certain personal information available to strategic partners that work with Apple to provide products and services, or that help Apple market to customers. Personal information from your child will be shared by Apple only to provide or improve our products and services; it will not be shared with third parties for their marketing purposes. “ and more . Might be of interest to some. The above quotes are both regarding Children’s data.

Are all of said family and friends IT savy , or you installed them at each site yourself? Interesting

Not for the ones who concocted that conceit (google).

Consumers have choice. Even my non tech friends and family were suspicious of iot bs from the early days of it. something which worked for centuries , was repairable, and could be shared within a community now attempting to be sold at quadruple the price, requiring some bs cloud subscription (with data to be onsold to harvesting probably) and able to be crippled with the flick of a firmware switch on the other side of the world to allow you the privilege of ‘upgrading’ to a better model? nice try venture capital crippled tech bros. Bikes never needed to be sprinkled with silicon valley snake oil. Im sure the founders made their cash and ran, but what a waste of energy and productivity.