The Illusion Of Ownership

Contents#

Video#

Our reliance on digital tools and services cannot be understated. Email, media, cloud storage, and social media platforms feel like they’re ours. But the truth is, many of the things you think you own, you don’t. Let’s dive into why true ownership matters and how you can take control of your digital assets.

The False Sense of Ownership#

You might feel like your Gmail account, your purchases on Prime Video, or your Squarespace website belong to you. After all, you’ve invested your own money into them with an account in your name. But the reality is, these are often leased, not owned. A single platform decision, whether it’s a terms-of-service violation, a licensing issue, or a company going bankrupt, can wipe out your access overnight. Let’s break it down with some examples.

Your Email: Not as “Yours” as You Think#

Your Gmail or Outlook account feels like an extension of yourself. It’s tied to your bank accounts, your phone, your contacts. Basically, your email address is the key to accessing some of the most important parts of your life. But what happens if Google sends you a dreaded “Your account has been suspended” email? Maybe you unintentionally broke a rule, or maybe it was a mistake (it does happen). Instantly you’re locked out of your bank, your two-factor authentication fails, and you can’t respond to critical emails (with potential legal or business implications).

The Fix: Buy your own domain name (something like yourname.com). By owning your domain, you become platform-agnostic. You can set up your email with a provider like ProtonMail or Zoho Mail, and if that provider fails you, you can easily switch to another without changing your email address. No need to update every account you’ve ever created. It’s a small investment for a massive payoff and time-save.

Your Media is Borrowed, Not Owned#

Streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, or Apple Music make it easy to access music, movies, and games. But read the fine print of those end-user license agreements: you’re not buying, you’re borrowing. Platforms can and do remove content, even if you’ve “purchased” it. For example:

• Amazon Prime Video removed Final Space for undisclosed reasons, leaving buyers without access.
• Apple iTunes revoked movies like Cars for users who moved to a different country due to licensing restrictions.
• PlayStation Store pulled MythBusters and other Discovery shows, despite users owning entire seasons.
• Epic Games Store delisted Dark and Darker over a lawsuit, erasing purchases.
• Google Play Music failed to transfer many purchased albums when migrating to YouTube Music.

The Fix: Keep local backups of your media. If you care about owning what you’ve paid for, store it on a hard drive. Streaming is convenient, but it’s not ownership. A physical or local digital copy ensures you’re not at the mercy of platform whims.

Your Cloud Storage is A Ticking Time Bomb#

Cloud storage services like iCloud or Google Drive are nice storing files and accessing them across devices, but they’re not foolproof. If your account gets terminated or the service goes down, your files could vanish. Those family photos, business documents, or creative projects? Gone.

The Fix: Always maintain local backups on a hard drive, and back up those backups. Cloud storage is great for convenience, but it’s not a substitute for owning your data. A simple external drive can save you from a world of pain.

Your Website is Likely Tied to a Platform, Not You#

Using Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress.com might feel like you own your website, but you’re tied to them. If they suspend your account, change features, or go out of business, your site could disappear or become unusable.

The Fix: Host your website with a provider where you control the files, like GitHub or GitLab. Keep a local copy of your site’s files on your computer. If one host goes down, you can move to another without losing your site. Ownership allows you the freedom to migrate.

Why Platform-Agnostic Ownership Matters#

The common thread here is control. Platforms like Google, Amazon, or Wix can make decisions you have no say in like bans, suspensions, licensing changes, or bankruptcies. Even paying customers aren’t immune. By being platform-agnostic, you avoid these risks. You’re not begging for a mishap when you own your domain, your media, and your data.

Practical Steps to True Ownership#

Here’s how to take control of your digital assets:

1. Buy Your Domain Name: Secure yourname.com or a relevant domain. It’s an appreciating asset that gives you email and website flexibility. Providers like Cloudflare, Namecheap, or Porkbun are good options.
2. Back Up Your Media Locally: Store purchased music, movies, or games on an external hard drive. Don’t rely solely on streaming services.
3. Maintain Local File Backups: Keep critical files on a hard drive, with a secondary backup for redundancy. Cloud storage is a supplement, not a replacement.
4. Choose Flexible Hosting: Use web hosting providers where you control your site’s files. Avoid proprietary platforms like Wix that lock you in.
5. Opt for Open-Source Alternatives: Do not purely rely on ecosystems like Apple or Adobe where migration is tough. Open-source tools or easily transferable platforms give you the freedom to move if you need to.

Ownership is Empowerment#

The main benefit of true ownership is the control it affords. Where platforms can pull the rug out from under you, owning your email, media, data, and website is non-negotiable if you care about longevity. Don’t let convenience lull you into a false sense of security. Ensure your digital assets are truly yours.