The Neighborhood Tech group was EAVNA’s first working group! The group formed in response to big tech platforms becoming hostile to end user privacy and mental health. We have since hosted several events focused around helping neighbors to reimagine their relationship with technology, in order to take back digital privacy, sovereignty, and to achieve better mental health outcomes.
Some events EAVNA’s Neighborhood Tech group has hosted:
- “Decolonize Your Tech” DiscoTech: our main event which we host quarterlyish! A fun, beginner-friendly, Disco-themed event where we show neighbors how to escape platforms run by Google, Meta (FB/IG), Microsoft, and other monopolized tech companies. We have prepared a catalogue of (mostly) free and open-source alternatives that respect end user sovereignty and privacy.
- Linux swap event: 2026 is the year of Linux Desktop! But seriously this time! Tired of Windows changing your default browser or forcing OneDrive in exchange for security updates? Guided support from local Linux experts to help move you to Linux, and we’ll plug you into a Linux Support group for long-term support! We host our Linux Swap events at Sandbox on Moreland Ave.
- Doomscrollers Anonymous: somewhere between our DiscoTech event and Alcoholics/Gamblers Anonymous, but focused on the mental health impacts of big tech platforms! Learn about how Meta algorithmically serves the most outrageous content to cause people to waste time on their platforms, share your experiences with neighbors, and develop strategies to spend less time doomscrolling, binge watching, playing video games, being stuck in other digital loops!