Social media platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and X (Twitter) are huge parts of our online lives. They’re where we catch up with friends, get our news, and share ideas. But while these platforms bring us together in a lot of ways, they also come with big problems—especially when it comes to privacy and misinformation. For a company like Runbox, being part of these platforms just doesn’t make sense. Here’s why.
1. Privacy Comes First
Runbox has built its reputation on privacy. It’s not just a feature—it’s the whole point. We don’t collect or sell your data to third-party advertisers. In fact, privacy is baked into everything we do.
Meta and X (Twitter) on the other hand make a lot of their money by gathering tons of data about their users—everything from your location to your browsing history. They use that data to target ads and sell you things, often without your full understanding of how much info they’re collecting. For Runbox, which is all about user privacy, being associated with platforms that profit off personal data just doesn’t align with our values.
2. The Misinformation Problem
Another huge issue with Meta and X (Twitter) is the spread of misinformation. False information spreads quickly, whether it’s fake news, conspiracy theories, or outright lies. While both companies have made efforts to combat this, their algorithms often prioritize sensational content that gets more clicks, which means falsehoods spread faster than facts.
For Runbox, being associated with these platforms would create a conflict of interest. Email is a tool that people rely on for serious, often personal communication. It’s a space where trust is essential. We want to stay focused on offering a secure and reliable service.
3. The Surveillance Economy
A big problem with platforms like Meta and X (Twitter) is that they are deeply entrenched in the so-called surveillance economy. This is where companies track your every move online—what you click on, what you search for, where you go—and use that data to build a profile of you, which is then sold to advertisers. It’s a massive system that trades your personal data for profits.
Runbox doesn’t play this game. We don’t track your activity to build ad profiles, and we don’t need to gather your personal information because we don’t sell you things. For us, privacy means not watching what you do online, not gathering data, and not exploiting it for money. By staying away from platforms like Meta and X (Twitter), Runbox makes it clear that we’re committed to a different way of doing business—one where users’ privacy is respected, not mined for profit.
4. Transparency Over Tricks
When it comes to transparency, Runbox is all about being clear with our users. We don’t hide behind confusing privacy policies or complicated terms of service. You know exactly how your data is being handled. Runbox is about open, honest communication, and our privacy policy reflects this.
Meta and X (Twitter), on the other hand, have had their fair share of privacy scandals. Whether it’s the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica debacle or X (Twitter)’s various privacy breaches, these platforms have proven time and again that they aren’t great at protecting user data. That’s a huge red flag.
5. Building a Different Kind of Digital Culture
Runbox isn’t just about offering a private email service—it’s about supporting a different kind of online culture. While Meta and X (Twitter) focus on getting the most engagement and maximizing their profits, Runbox is trying to create a space where privacy, trust, and user control are the priorities.
Runbox is part of a larger movement toward a more ethical, user-centered internet. It’s about building services that don’t trade on user data or prioritize profit over privacy. By staying away from platforms that often seem more concerned with clicks and likes than with ethical practices, Runbox is helping to build an internet where users are respected, not exploited.
Why Runbox Does Things Differently
So why doesn’t Runbox join the party on Meta or X (Twitter)? Because our values just don’t align. Privacy, security, and trust are at the heart of everything we do. We don’t want to be a part of data mining and surveillance practices that are so deeply embedded in these big social media platforms.
If you care about your digital privacy and want to support companies that respect your data, choosing services like Runbox makes a big difference. It’s a small but important way to opt out of the surveillance economy and help build a more ethical, transparent digital world. Runbox is saying: Your data is yours. Your privacy is a right. And we’ll protect it.
We hope you’ll join us in supporting a more privacy-conscious digital future. Join us on Mastodon and Bluesky, two decentralized social media platforms.
