# blog_post

title: 03/27/2025: Taking Control of your (Digital) Life!
slug: 03-27-2025-taking-control-of-your-digital-life
images: ["Pic3.png", "Pic2.png", "Pic1.png"]
category: Digital Freedom
tags: Self-Hosting, Digital-Freedom
content:
  <i>Pictured Above: Some ways I use the free internet to make the most of my digital space</i>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h1>The Internet and You</h1>
  <br>
  <br>In today’s world, the internet is woven into nearly every aspect of life. No matter who you are, what you do, how old or how young you are. You rely on the internet in some way, shape or form. 
  <br>
  <br>But while we use the internet every day, most people don’t realize the power they could have by carving out their own space on it. Instead of merely existing on platforms controlled by large tech companies, what if you owned your own corner of the internet?
  <br>
  <br>One of the best ways to harness the modern internet is to claim your own digital “land.” By purchasing a domain and setting up infrastructure—whether it’s a website, blog, or web service—you establish an online presence that belongs to you, and no one else.
  <br>
  <br>We’ve become so accustomed to big tech handling everything for us. Instagram and Facebook serve as our virtual identities. Google and Microsoft help us send emails, search for information, and store our files. It’s all incredibly convenient, but at what cost?
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h1>The Problem with Social Media</h1>
  <br>
  <br>Maybe you unknowingly violated a vague community guideline. Maybe your account got hacked. Or maybe it was just an algorithmic glitch. Whatever the reason, if your entire online presence is built on rented space—like an Instagram or Facebook, it is very easy to lose everything in your digital space, and there is nothing you can do about it.
  <br>
  <br>With social media, you’re at the mercy of ever-changing rules, shadow-bans, and disappearing reach. And let’s not forget the data trade-off—every post, every click, every interaction is fed into AI models, sold to advertisers, and used to train AI models. 
  <br>
  <br>It’s time to ask: Why should we give up control over our own digital presence for the sake of convenience?
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h1>Take Control of Your Assets</h1>
  <br>
  <br>Owning a website means you set the rules. You decide what stays up, how your content is displayed, and how you engage with your audience. There are no sudden algorithm changes to deal with, no unexpected bans, and no data being harvested.
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>Imagine:
  <br>
  <br>    A portfolio site that showcases your work, without worrying about Instagram's algorithm burying your post.
  <br>    A blog where you share insights, free from the limitations of social media.
  <br>    An online store that sells directly to customers, that you have full control over!
  <br>    A business website that ranks on Google, bringing in organic traffic.
  <br>
  <br>A website is your digital home, not a rented apartment in big tech’s ecosystem.
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h1>Aren't there risks hosting your own infrastructure?</h1>
  <br>
  <br>Yes. There are always risks when you take things on yourself. It is much easier to target an individual than a massive corporation of course. However, I believe having the ability to reach out directly to the administrative team, and having transparency/honesty baked into the business model really make all the diff
  <br>I would personally much rather trust those closest to me with my personal info than someone who has something to gain from collecting it. Wouldn't you? That is what I hope to be for you. I hope to be your friend, and help give you a trustworthy source for hosting/operating your digital assets.
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h1>Beware of AI</h1>
  <br>
  <br>As AI continues to evolve, the importance of digital ownership will only grow. Do you really want your personal data fueling an AI model just because you commented on a Facebook post? Should tech giants be allowed to scrape and monetize our data just because they can?
  <br>
  <br>Building your own website isn’t just about having an online presence—it’s about protecting your identity, controlling your content, and ensuring your voice 
  <br>The internet isn’t going anywhere, but the way we use it is changing. Owning your own website puts you in control of your digital future. It’s not difficult to get started—all it takes is a domain, some basic setup, and a vision for what you want your digital identity to be. 
  <br>
  <br>
  <br>
  <br><h3><b>This is the mission of Benny's House. To provide digital freedom to all, and to only give you what you need.</b></h3>


