Google has recently announced that developers of any Android application will have to prove their identity, regardless of whether or not their app is published on the official Google Play Store. This means that side loading, the process of installing apps via non-official channels, is essentially dead. The point of Android is to be a free and open operating system for mobile devices, which does not only mean mobile phones. For example, the Meta Quest VR headsets use Android as their operating system. This move by Google jeopardizes freedom for more than just mobile phones; they have made it more difficult for developers to work on any technology that utilizes Android.
This is so completely and utterly stupid. Android is meant to be a haven for developers and users alike. Developers have the freedom to make applications for the users, and the users have the choice of which apps to put on their device. In other words, people have the choice of how to use their Android device. They could uninstall Android if they really wanted to! This move by Google gives them more control over how people use their technology. It is not meant to improve "safety."
The only good answer to moving toward this "walled garden" approach is to not use Android any more. There is still time to install a new operating system on your phone, if you own a compatible device. I unfortunately cannot since I own a Samsung phone, which means that the phone is more locked down than others. A great option is GrapheneOS. While Graphene is still based on Android, it is at least not developed by Google, which means that you will likely have an easier time install the apps that you want.
The other option is to not use a smartphone at all, and this is the one I'm seriously considering myself. Honestly, I hate browsing the Internet on my phone. I hate how distracting my phone can be. These companies have all made it so that owning a smartphone is a requirement of daily life. Well, I don't want to own a smartphone anymore. I want to buy a so-called dumbphone, an old flip phone that can only make and receive calls and text messages. I would lose access to so many things that I've grown to use on a daily basis (such as Google Maps - I would miss that dearly), but at least my device would not be controlled by a massive corporation.
I implore you to consider your own mobile phone habits. What do you use it for? Do you really need it? What kinds of alternatives could you use to slowly wean yourself off of using it? What services does it provide that a laptop can't do? Maybe then you could consider replacing it.