Get a digital space
We should all have a digital space of our own. It should be a place where we own our data, cannot be easily de-platformed, and where we can be ourselves.
When you routinely only post on X/Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon, what-have-you, you are at the mercy of that platform. The platform might allow you to export your data, but you need to remember to do so regularly, and if you're caught with your pants down because of a ban, you'll lose your presence. Bans can happen for any reason.
It's not just people who are trolls or hateful. I recently tried to create a Bluesky account to see what all the hubbub was. I created my account and didn't do anything else. When I went on the next day to start using it, I discovered I was banned. I don't know why. It won't even let me stay on the screen long enough to click the appeal button.
This is my last attempt at using traditional social platforms. I'm going to only use my own from now on. Can you imagine if I had put years and years into Bluesky before this arbitrary ban? That would be soul-crushing. I will continue to only use my own space, so I can be in control.