Oribi Mom: Signing out from signing in

You just sign up using your email address. It’s easy. I wouldn’t know how many times I’ve seen that line or heard it from a helpful acquaintance, but I’ve only recently begun to realise the extent of my digital footprint.

Since I started using the internet in full force (in about 2007), I have absolutely no idea how many accounts, emails, newsletters, or promotional lists my email address is now on in cyberspace. It is frightening to think about it.

And that is on my primary email, not the weird random name ones I created as a teenager who was exploring the wonderful world wide web. You know, it is quite a shock to realise that a potential employer is asking for your contact details before your first-ever job interview and you have to write something on the form that has “69” or a swear word in it.

ALSO READ: Oribi Mom: Escaping the black death to die another day

Email subscription is a little easier to manage because you can “Unsubscribe” in one click for most services or newsletters. However, those accounts linked to your email just keep piling up, whether it is to join the online shopping trend that Covid-19 has encouraged or to download some app that looks interesting. Can’t it just be anonymous?

Although, pregnant mothers of two-and-a-half like me could probably attest to the number of password resets that happen in a month. At some point, the brain fails to register yet another snippet of random information that we were sure we wouldn’t forget. Hormones might not be the only reason; there are just too many passwords and logins and freebies and competition entries. Even my banking app keeps coming up with ways to complicate my life with codes that need capitals and numbers and the DNA sequence that only resides in my left foot’s baby toe.

Part of my cleanse this year has been to start unsubscribing, unlisting, and deactivating every site.

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