Vitalik Says Digital Minimalism Can Reduce Reliance on Social Media and the Internet in the AI Era

Vitalik shared an essay titled “Digital Minimalism” on X, arguing that people should reconsider their relationship with digital tools as AI develops. According to Odaily, he said users should decide when and how to use digital services rather than be guided by social media algorithms, mobile internet and complex website interfaces. Vitalik described three steps he has taken: using Firefly to manage X, Bluesky, Farcaster and Lens instead of relying on X’s native interface; keeping his phone in airplane mode by default for 100 consecutive days and connecting through Wi-Fi only when needed; and using command-line tools for tasks involving ENS, IPFS and privacy protocols rather than completing them through websites. He said traditional websites and web applications can pose privacy risks and require users to trust their servers each time they visit. In his view, modular tools, local applications and AI can let people use natural language to perform tasks that previously required programming knowledge, reducing reliance on closed platforms and complex interfaces. He called the approach “digital minimalism” and said advances in AI, offline applications and software tools are making it possible to rely less on social media, the internet and web applications.