FAQ

Of course not. One single small switch a month is enough — that's the idea of relaxed rebellion. If it doesn't work out some Sunday because grandma's turning 80 or there's a confirmation coming up: no drama, the next DIDay will come for sure.

Sometimes yes, often not. A browser or search-engine switch is done in five minutes, and many messengers today are better than WhatsApp. In our guides we show you the simplest path — and we're honest about where an alternative falls short.

But you do have something to defend: your choice of what you read, whom you talk to, what you say. Whoever holds your data can influence you — and whoever controls the platforms controls the debate. It's less about dark secrets than about the power you're giving away.

Alone, no — together, yes. That's exactly why DIDay exists: a fixed date when many people switch at the same time and talk about it. Each switch becomes two, two become ten — that's how the network effect slowly tips in our favour.

We explain what matters and present alternatives — the informed choice is yours. Three things are important to us:

1. You're the customer, not the product — what we recommend is run for you, not monetised over you (as with Facebook).
2. Transparency through open source — the software we recommend is open source: anyone can inspect, audit and improve it.
3. More choice, less lock-in — with open-source software and federated networks you can switch providers any time, without losing your identity, contacts or content — just as you've always been able to with email.

Yes. Our guides are written for people, not for nerds — step by step, with screenshots. And on DIDay, the community is there to help if you get stuck.

Keep it for now. But just because the kindergarten group lives on WhatsApp, that doesn't mean the family chat, the bowling club and your kid's first smartphone have to end up there too. Move what's within your reach bit by bit — in the end, even the kindergarten group might follow.

That's exactly the network effect — and exactly why we switch together, not alone. Invite your people to DIDay instead of leaving them behind.

That doesn't mean you have to reply there. Just answer from your new messenger — and get them used to the idea that you won't be reachable on WhatsApp much longer. Those of us who are a bit older will remember: that's exactly how it went when we switched from SMS to WhatsApp …

Nothing, if you take them with you. Almost every service lets you export your data (Google, Apple, WhatsApp), and our guides show you how. Rule of thumb: back up first, then switch.

Start in your private life: browser, search, messenger, maps. Changing the work account isn't an individual problem, it's one for the organisation — bring it up, find allies, collective switches work there too.

Big Tech isn't free — you pay with your data and your attention. Many alternatives are also free (Firefox, Signal, Mastodon). Some cost a few euros a month — and in return, you're the customer, not the product.

DIDay is an idea, a movement, a relaxed rebellion — not a service some billionaire hands out to you for free. Behind it stands no company, but a broad and by now international community: associations, hackspaces and individuals, all volunteers. This site is run by CCC Hansestadt Hamburg e.V. — and you can help shape the movement on the get-involved page.

Nobody — we just do it. The site, the events, the community work: all volunteer-run. No "funding", no "corporate partners", no donations "financing" anything here. What we do have are people who put in their time — join us.

No. No affiliate links, no commissions, no partnership deals. Our yardstick is the principles, not the companies — we'd also recommend alternatives we wouldn't earn anything from, if there were anything to earn.