So lovely to hear and get back in touch with you all.
I had privacy concerns with Google and Facebook for a while. I took some time to delete all my history, app and web connections in Google and FB. I deleted my FB account. I deleted everything in Google except my email account - it's a little hard to get rid of. For the past 6 months, my browser has been in incognito mode. I am remembering all my passwords and logins. In case I forget, I am taking the extra few minutes to retrieve password. I even deleted my LinkedIn where I had 700+ connections, and created a new one and established connections only with those I have either seen, talked or worked with. I had a bunch of Twitter accounts - all gone, except one. I had 3 Insta accounts, and now only one for my photography stuff.
I always felt as if Google and FB were standing behind me as I used the internet. Every site I went to, seemed to have ads from my Amazon purchase history, recent websites, even based on history from years back. The wife then had a scared where some hacker emailed her her passwords and demanded money. The wife also went through everything I did to protect ourselves from trouble.
Now, no more saved passwords, histories, photos, CC data - nothing. It's so relieving, and I can feel confident in being able to remember passwords and other important information. The only place I feel safe (as of now, is in the Apple universe). Ever since I turned incognito on, on browsers and adjusted privacy settings with Apple across all my devices (location, app data etc.) - I feel a little safer. I know I will never be 100% protected, but I believe I have taken enough steps.
The other benefits is from distancing socially on the internet forums (bar this one :-)) where it is impossible now to have a meaningful exchange of opinions. I am guilty of contributing to that as well, but I have quickly learned and slowed down. Even WSJ which I have subscribed to, for years has become a notorious place (the comments section) that the good comments get lost amidst the name calling and hate speech.