Not sure I can enumerate all the reasons in this post, but I decided to be done with Facebook today. When it really comes down to it, it’s just entertainment. And to think I just became Facebook friends with a couple pals in my Twitter feed…
Suddenly I feel a burden lifted from my shoulders. I’m moving toward the simpler, less complex life. Twitter will remain, as it is actually a helpful tool for me to accomplish work-related tasks. I’ll spend more time on the blog, more time with my own private thoughts, and less time trolling aimlessly.
(EDIT: While meditating on this choice, I do believe this will be another temporary hiatus from Facebook — my 2nd “facecation” — and I will likely return to my Facebook account within a week or two. These thoughts have also inspired an upcoming blog post for me, which will dive into distractions in general. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this question — What is Facebook to you? — feedback encouraged!)
As I continue to mull these thoughts over, specifically regarding Facebook, and generally regarding our interaction with each other on the Internet, my thoughts for the new post are leaning toward our loneliness and our needy state as humans.
facebook opens a door for me into the circle of my friends and family. It is a fun and safe place to chat and it allows me to quickly ascertain their states of mind and health. There is a connection that is more convenient than the telephone and yet more personal than email.
I like those aspects of Facebook, too. You’re right! So neat to get little updates and chats with loved ones. My biggest concern thus far has been one of privacy. I do not want to trust a company with my data when they change privacy settings regularly, and default many of them to “Everyone can see this.”