It depends on what you want to do. I think Tails is a little over the top for watching gore videos (which I also don't recommend, I did that when I was younger and there are pictures in my head I can't get rid off), but I don't know your use case or background. If you want to use a VPN, you also have to trust them (or not). Don't use a free VPN, because in this case you are the product. Even if you've chosen a VPN, you'll also have to pay for it "anonymously" if you want to stay "anonymous". Of course you don't have to, but if you buy anything and provide your address, or use services that are connected to your personal data, you should be aware that you're no longer "anonymous".
I think one can never really be completely safe, but there are some basics. Delete metadata from images you upload (they might expose your phone model or GPS data for example), don't visit fishy or non-encrypted sites, don't click on banners etc., install ublockOrigin on your desktop browser, trust nobody. Also, don't use Google/de-google your life, use linux or a virtual machine.
https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/on-the-issue-of-privacy.13159/post-269317