I have neither time, resources nor know-how to like go all out on data privacy. But I try doing things like using Proton for Mail, browsing with DuckDuckGo or Ecosia, messaging on Signal instead of WhatsApp, etc.
But I’m having a hard time responding to people who say “why do you do that, it’s completely pointless since companies like Google have all of our data anyways unless we go all out, and nobody has time for all the effort that takes”.
No, it’s not “all out there”.
I use Google, and they have data about me, and while it’s a lot through Android, settings limit quite a bit what they may do, collect, connect, and reuse. And partly because they have this significant information and control, I make a deliberate effort to not use their email. Email gives a lot more insight, attack surface (technically and through knowledge) and control (almost every service or their uses email in one way or another).
Email is so central, I don’t want to depend on a free service by a huge impersonal/dehuman corp. My phone has data even without Google. I could migrate. With email, migrating data is possible with caveats, but changing the address on all services I use is infeasible.
Ultimately, is a matter of dependence, risk, and convenience. If they’re fine with the risks, that’s on them. Most people are not as poweruser or caring. And that’s fine by me - I can’t and don’t want to invest into wasted effort beyond where appropriate and voicing or offering to a degree.