The DeGoogle movement just got a big marketing push with PewDiePie's latest video

PewDiePie just dropped a bombshell of a video titled “I’m Done with Google.” And let me tell you, it’s got people from all walks of life talking about it. This isn’t just another rant from the internet’s favorite Swede — it’s a full-on endorsement of the DeGoogle movement, a growing push to ditch Google’s sprawling ecosystem over privacy worries and data tracking. So with his latest upload, PewDiePie has given this trend a massive marketing boost.

The video kicks off with him sporting a tinfoil hat, poking fun at the stereotype of privacy nuts while making a serious point. “The tech overlords are listening,” he says with a grin, before diving into how he’s spent weeks stripping Google out of his digital life. He’s not subtle about it either — calling out Google’s dominance and even joking that they can’t touch him now. Well, except for YouTube, which, yeah, Google owns. “I literally can’t escape,” he admits, laughing at the irony.

So what’s the DeGoogle movement anyway? It’s this grassroots thing where folks are fed up with how much of their lives Google tracks — everything from your searches to your emails to where you’re driving. People want alternatives that don’t treat their data like a goldmine for ads. PewDiePie’s not the first to jump on this, but with his reach, he’s definitely the loudest voice yet. And he’s not just talking the talk, he’s walking it too.

In the video, he lays out his de-Googling journey step by step. First up, he swapped Google Search for DuckDuckGo. “It just works,” he says, urging viewers to change their default search engine in two minutes flat. Then he ditched Chrome for Firefox, admitting it’s “B-tier” but tweakable for privacy. He even considered Brave but stuck with Firefox for its open-source cred. The big move, though? His phone. He took his Google Pixel 9 and slapped GrapheneOS on it, which is a privacy-first operating system that lets him lock down what apps can do. “Why does my keyboard need internet access?” he asks, baffled by how invasive apps can get.

It doesn’t stop there. He ditched Gmail by setting up his own email server, waved goodbye to Google Drive with a self-hosted File Browser setup, and even turned his Steam Deck into a server for his note-taking app, Joplin. Yeah, you read that right — his gaming console is now pulling double duty. He’s all about self-hosting now, running his own password manager with Vaultwarden and cutting out subscriptions wherever he can. “I’m not paying $20 a year for 100GB,” he declares, half-joking but dead serious.

Why’s he doing all this? Privacy’s a big driver. He’s tired of being tracked at every turn, and he wants control over his software instead of bending to what he calls “tech overlords.” Plus, he’s cheap — his words, not mine. That mix of humor and real talk is classic PewDiePie, and it’s hitting home with fans. He’s not pretending it’s all smooth sailing either. He spent two days staring at a “spinny circle” to get his password manager working, and he was 30 minutes late to an appointment because the open-source alternative to Google Maps wasn’t cutting it. “Maybe surveillance has its perks,” he quips, but he’s sticking with it.

The internet’s eating this up. Over on X, the reactions are pouring in. One user commented on a Reddit post about the video saying, “Seriously, his video here I thought was really good, insightful, gave you enough just to go research on your own and figure something out. He makes everything he does really, really cool.” Another on X cheered, “Oh my God, PewDiePie is now in his de-Googling arc. First Linux, now this. It brings a tear to the eye. 🥲”

Even Proton Mail jumped in, thanking Pewds for raising awareness about the DeGoogle movement. The post also included a fun little video aiming to convince him to use Proton Mail instead of self-hosting.

Smart move — they’re a privacy-focused email service looking to snag some of that Gmail exodus. Not everyone’s sold, though. One user mentioned that stuff like this takes time, which is fine for someone like PewDiePie, but not everyone has the time to seek out alternatives and set up self-hosted emails or password managers. He added, “him being wealthy means he has free time to do stuff like this” Another chimed in, “I would also de-Google if it wasn’t so dang good. And honestly as an individual I don’t care if they get my info, I won’t live in 50 years anyway. “

The r/degoogle sub is loving it, with one user posting, “PewDiePie degoogles himself — huge W for the movement.” Over on r/firefox, someone gushed, “PewDiePie just recommended Firefox. This is massive!” And on r/linux, a fan noted, “PewDiePie picks a fight against Google, installs GrapheneOS.” His influence is undeniable — those communities were niche before, but now they’re getting a spotlight.

This isn’t just a PewDiePie flex, though. The DeGoogle movement’s been simmering for a while, fueled by folks who are done with big tech’s data grabs. In fact, if you follow tech stuff on YouTube, you’ve probably already seen LinusTechTip’s De-Google Your Life videos last year. His videos were the first to shine light on the privacy issues with Google services to a wide audience. So much so that YouTube pulled the second part which essentially showed people how to go ad-free on YouTube, without the Premium subscription.

His video’s a wake-up call, but it’s not all rosy. De-Googling’s tough. Google’s everywhere — your phone, your TV, your work tools. PewDiePie admits he’s still tied to YouTube, and replacing Maps was a headache. Self-hosting sounds cool until you’re wrestling with tech setup for days. Still, he’s proving it’s doable, even if it’s not perfect. “I’m finally free,” he says, and you can tell he means it.

What’s the bigger picture? This could nudge more people to rethink their tech habits. You don’t have to go full PewDiePie — swapping a search engine or browser is a start. DuckDuckGo’s already seeing a bump in mentions online, and Proton Mail’s probably crossing their fingers for a shoutout. The movement’s not new, but PewDiePie’s megaphone just made it mainstream. Companies offering privacy-first alternatives are licking their chops—this is free marketing they couldn’t buy.

For the average person, it’s a mixed bag. Google’s convenience is hard to beat, and not everyone’s got the time or know-how to self-host their life. But PewDiePie’s not asking for perfection. “Don’t be lazy,” he says, pushing for small changes. PewDiePie’s not just a YouTuber anymore; he’s a voice for a shift that’s been brewing. Whether you’re ready to ditch Google or just curious, he’s got people thinking. And with that tinfoil hat, he’s laughing all the way to the privacy party. Maybe he’s not the crazy one after all.

If you read all that and want to begin your journey on ditching Google, I’d suggest heading over to the r/degoogle subreddit for tips and discussions about alternatives. You could also start off with the basics by watching this guide by LTT, which I referred to earlier:

For those of you who want to be a bit more serious with this endeavor, I would suggest checking this huge list of Google alternatives on Github. It’s a crazy good resource for everyone. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your take on the whole movement in the comments section below. Light it up, I’ll read them all.