People have called me crazy. “Why would you delete your Facebook?” I understand their hesitance, especially now when EVERYONE we know and EVERYTHING we do happens on social media. Facebook has become its own community. People can share pictures, articles, likes, and dislikes; all while holding conversations with one another.
Facebook allows its users to remain in constant communication! Wondering what your high school sweetheart is up to 15 years after graduation? Add him as a friend on Facebook. Want people to know just how much fun your trip to Europe was? Upload your pictures to your Facebook. Write your reaction on a presidential debate, review for a movie, thoughts on a popular restaurant- whatever you want!
It would make sense that the idea of deleting my Facebook could shock some people. Who wouldn’t want a Facebook, right?
To be honest, there was just too much noise. Too much sharing and too many conversations. I would sit on my phone scrolling through my news feed seemingly mesmerized by the statuses and images of people I truly didn’t know. I was addicted to Facebook- most times I wouldn’t even remember signing in. I would be sitting on my phone and find myself asking…how long have I been on Facebook? Even after I put my phone down, I would pick it right back up 5 minutes later to refresh the news feed. And you better believe that there was already more to see. Minutes could go by and I would go from looking at my friends page to their cousin’s boyfriend’s sister. It was crazy!
I also noticed how irritable Facebook made me. I would either be sighing in envy over someone’s life that I wish I was living, or rolling my eyes in annoyance over what I considered to be the most irrelevant statuses. “I love making pie,” was a status I actually read. Who cares if you love making pie? Why is Facebook your platform for telling your friends that you like to make pie? But…that’s the point of Facebook, isn’t it? To inform people of your day to day activities and thoughts.
Either way, I came to the conclusion that Facebook was no longer for me. And in order to put an end to my addiction, I had to simply cut Facebook off cold turkey-style. I understand the benefits that could arise from Facebook, I truly do. The personal and professional connections are great! But, Facebook has turned into a way for people to flaunt every detail of their lives to their so called friends. Instead of having personal conversations, everything is up for the world to see. Even when two people are together in person, there is still a need to “snap a pic” and tag themselves at whatever location they are at and post it on Facebook. Did you really go out to dinner with your friend if it wasn’t chronicled on Facebook?
