Apps, search engines and social media networks have a constant presence in most people’s everyday lives. Years ago, these sites and apps seemed harmless and helpful—they were strategically designed to appear this way to the average person.

But as the amount of data they’ve been gathering on users has been brought to light, public opinion has shifted. Unfriendly terms such as “data monopoly” and “threat to democracy” are currently setting the tone of discussion around companies like Google and Facebook.

Part of the problem is that right now, the culture around data sharing is about “opting out.” When you start using a new app or social media network, checking the box next to “I have read and agree to the terms” generally puts you in a situation where your data is available to be harvested by the company.

Many people simply don’t know what they’re getting into by agreeing to those terms. No one really has a choice about what data they share. And the typical default systems require people to do the work of opting out on their own.

The only way to stop the data collection is by opting out, unsubscribing and stopping websites from collecting cookies—files that hold a small amount of data on a specific user and website.