FB is a tool, you use it as you want. It doesn't control you. Some use it to communicate when friends (real friends) and family. No one Needs facebook, but it can be pretty convenient if there's a great distance you and your family/friends. It's not an evil platform. You can't be shocked that they want to advertise, it's where all sites are headed (if not already).
For better or for worse, Facebook has changed how we communicate as a society.
And no other site had a hand in it? (not in any order)iirc, icq, myspace, aol, prodigy, twitter, instagram, reddit, 4chan, etc... Everything tries to bring some advancement in some way, ultimately to make a profit.
Read the article again and replace FB with alcohol. For better or for worse, Alcohol has changed how we communicate as a society. It really just sounds as though you were addicted or brainwashed to using FB too much. Taking a break was a good idea, but to think what occurred in your life wasn't going to happen until you left FB is ridiculous.
Use it, don't use it... disable notifications all all types. If it was an emergency they'd call you.