Draft:Tech fencing

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Tech fencing (also referred to as tech fence) is a digital lifestyle philosophy and set of technical practices designed to reclaim personal "intent" from algorithmic influence. The term was coined by content creator Felix Kjellberg (PewDiePie) to describe a "cure" for what he characterizes as "algo brain"— a degradation of cognitive performance and attention span caused by tech companies optimizing for maximum engagement.

The core principle of tech fencing is the intentional creation of friction between the user and attention-seeking platforms, ensuring that digital interaction is a conscious choice rather than a compulsive habit.

The concept of tech fencing is built on the premise that modern internet environments, specifically those driven by 5,000+ engineers optimizing for retention, are "industrialized nothingness". Proponents argue that the human brain is being "re-trained" to have a lower attention span, leading to decreased cognitive performance. Tech fencing seeks to reverse this by establishing a "defense" or "fence" against these metrics.

The philosophy emphasizes that "you are your choices and your actions," and allowing an algorithm to dictate one's life is equivalent to losing one's identity.

A primary method of tech fencing involves moving "attention-hungry" apps—such as social media and trackers—to a secondary profile on a mobile device. This adds roughly five to six seconds of friction to the process of accessing these apps, forcing the user to pause and decide if they truly intend to use them.

Tech fencing advocates for self-hosting digital services rather than using "free" corporate platforms where the user is the product. By using a Virtual Private Server (VPS) or personal hardware (such as a Steam Deck) to host websites, game servers (e.g., Minecraft), or media tools, users can avoid tracking, ads, and algorithmic interference.

A significant component involves "fixing" existing platforms by disabling algorithmic features. Specific actions include:

• Disabling Shorts/Reels: Removing short-form video content from platforms like YouTube.
• Removing Homepages and Sidebars: Using extensions to block algorithmic recommendations and sidebars, leaving only the subscription box or the specific video intended for viewing.
• Unfollowing: Removing algorithmic "noise" by unfollowing most accounts to prioritize direct communication or curated information.

• DNS Blockers: Implementing network-level DNS blockers to prevent ads and tracking telemetry from even reaching a device.
• RSS Feeds: Replacing algorithmic "doom scrolling" with a self-hosted RSS feed. This allows the user to pre-select the blogs, websites, and posts they wish to consume, maintaining choice in their scrolling habits.

Tech fencing also incorporates the legal right to data privacy. This includes using services to automate the removal of personal information (such as phone numbers, addresses, and shopping habits) from data broker databases to regain control over one's digital footprint.