Facebook Routine
For many people in life, connecting to people is essential to their well-being and Facebook is a big part of that sense of well-being. Facebook is a routine like brushing ones teeth on a daily basis. For me it was no different. A year ago I was so close to my Facebook and friends from other places (many of whom I did not know or know very well) that it began to become a problem. You ask how so? How could connecting with a friend be a problem? And to answer that question we must know why I left Facebook.
How do you compare?
As most people who use Facebook already know, the application lets the user “share” pictures, videos, ideas, projects, opinions and basically their life (if they so choose) with anyone else who is allowed to become a “friend”. (Anyone can become a friend which I also find kind of ironic because if you have never met someone in real life or even know them, how are they really a friend?)
Now I used Facebook in all the many popular ways of sharing this and that but the trouble started when I began to compare my life with other people’s lives. In an attempt to minimize some comparing however, I would avoid viewing the “news” feeds from some people while viewing only the ones I cared about. But in the end I was still feeling dissatisfied. For me Facebook was like that. Using Facebook was an exercise in dissatisfaction because other people where doing things and making things go and enjoying life while I was just……there I go comparing again. And Facebook made it easy. Facebook not only made it easy to compare but it also made it feel okay. Now as a Christian I should know better.
Facebook Bias
Facebook has been known to favor the left in America. They are not favorable to Christians or Conservatives either. Their philosophy simply rubs me the wrong way. Another reason I don’t want to use Facebook.
Gossip
Did I mention the gossip aspect of Facebook? In my opinion Facebook is a breeding ground for gossip whether it’s about truth or lies, gossip is everywhere on Facebook. Since each user of Facebook is at liberty to post nearly anything that comes to mind, it’s anyone’s guess what might be said. And when whatever it may be (good or bad) is said and is posted publicly, potentially hundreds of people (and probably more) have instantaneous knowledge of those intricate details. This information can be anything, whether it’s personal, funny, disgusting or sensitive, it’s all apparently fair game on Facebook. And whatever it maybe that’s said or posted, everyone who’s a friend of a friend of a friend (of a friend) now knows. I think you get my point. Sometimes this knowledge is helpful while other times it may do more damage than help. And so my belief has been that if a person is not able to face the person and say it, then it probably shouldn’t be said on Facebook, especially if it’s not private. And let us not neglect to mention what people post about themselves. On Facebook it would seem just about anything goes and we all their to see it (or read it). And so to avoid being caught up in any Facebook frenzies over words and pictures, I decided it was best for me to leave Facebook–before I said something publicly I might regret. (That is why I post it on a blog……heh heh)
Addiction
Of course Facebook doesn’t have to be all about comparing ones life with another or sharing our lives publicly but I have since learned there is also an addiction aspect. Personally I did not like the feeling I having each day that I must know what others are doing, saying, posting or thinking at any given moment and that they would gladly share it with everyone! Pieces of their lives (and my own) were showing up in the “news” feed 24 hours a day. It’s true, I am for the most part a private person but with Facebook, I felt the constant urge to tell all those “friends” what I think. After all, they posted what they posted because they wanted my response, right? Here’s the best part. If your post is cute, disgusting, awesome, stupid or clever enough it might even get a like and a re-post! The cycle of feeling the need to know and feeling the need to share opinions and pictures never ends on Facebook. And so after one year of feeling stuck inside the Facebook hamster wheel I finally made the plunge to leave Facebook for good (hopefully).
Now I beg someone to hit me over the head with a large brick if I ever join Facebook again. (not really….just use a board)
If you enjoyed this post, please like and comment below! Oh, wait. This isn’t Facebook but feel free to comment anyways.
Next, find out why I left Twitter!
Watch it! What Hope Looks Like!
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