On Ditching Facebook
One from the Vault...
For a long time now, I’ve appeared on local TV talking about communication and social media. The past couple of years, I’ve hinted during my appearances that social media, in general, is corrosive to our society and that Facebook is downright evil. (Way to kill your TV gig, dummy!)
Anyway, I took the app off my phone a month ago — so now I have to access Facebook using my computer. It has dramatically cut down on my aggravation and given me back hours of previously wasted time. I think it’s been beneficial in improving my mood.
I check in every couple of days, but I no longer race to post stuff so much or allow myself to get activated by the stupid crap too many people parrot without fact-checking or thinking through.
And don’t get me started on the mean stuff. We’ve all done it — said things online we would never say to someone in real life (at least I hope so…). Sad but true, sometimes my “best self” takes a holiday when I’m riled up on Facebook.
Facebook is the worst offender, but my beloved Twitter is toxic, Instagram vapid, and don’t get me started on Tik Tok. LinkedIn is just about the best social media platform to use for one simple reason.
“On LinkedIn, being a jerk has consequences. It threatens your ability to get your next job, strike your next partnership, or find your next customer,” said journalist Alex Kantrowitz. “You use your real identity there, and what you say has ramifications. This encourages people to pick their fellow users up, not tear them down.”
He’s right. Most social media is consequence-free. As we all know from observing the bully on the playground, without consequences, humans can be reliably trusted to default to their worst instincts.
So, back to Facebook. Next stop…account deletion?
I use Facebook to market my business, podcasts, and books, so I’m somewhat reluctant to pull the plug. However, lately, I have seen a distinct drop-off in engagement unless I boost posts (buy ads), and even then, it’s not all that great.
And of course, I like keeping up with family and friends — the rational ones, that is. And it has helped me rekindle long-lost relationships and stay in touch with people in other cities and countries.
But overall? Facebook is not good for me and not good for our society. It’s become a haven for appalling groupthink, kooky theories that literally get people killed, insurrectionists, and misinformation. So I think I will eventually bow out thanks.
We’ll see.
Originally published on Medium, November 2021.
Update: August 2024: I’m still on Facebook, mostly to market my books and podcasts. I post comparatively rarely now. And I am happier.
Recommended Reading:
https://www.thecoddling.com/better-social-media
https://www.forbes.com/.../apple-iphone-users-delete.../...
https://money.cnn.com/.../facebook-democracy.../index.html
https://www.forbes.com/.../facebook-users-have-3.../...
https://everycollegegirl.com/4-reasons-to-delete-your.../