Five Years Without Facebook

[Ravey]

A good read here! I never took the plunge of leaving facebook entirely. What I decided was to just switch off all my notifications so that I only ever used facebook when I really needed to use it.

But I can relate to the author here when he says he is unsure whether to go back or not, so I thought I might list a few things here for everyone to consider on whether to leave, stay or change their online social habits:

1. Are you forgetful? If it wasn't for my wife I would probably forget my own birthday. that been said social media is a great way for remembering important dates.

2. There can be only one? Sorry Highlander, but this isn't the case any more. You can now literally pick a social platform that fits your personal interests! Snap Chat, Instagram, lnkdin and many more! I personally use Discord as im a huge online Gamer and it's a great platform for me to catch up with my game buddies, share games and even upload some of my favorite gaming moments in the form of screenshots or small video clips.

3. "Honestly I'm watching, just please play back a bit..." If you spend more time looking at your facebook feed than you do watching TV... I think you need to start reevaluating what you do with your spare time or maybe you just need to turn off your notifications for social media. (oh and maybe cancel your subscription to Netflix)

4. "I'm into the group thing" - I see a lot of my friends STILL scrolling through individual profile feeds to chat with other people. Sometimes it's easier to set up a chat group... Whatsapp is great for this - anyone with a mobile phone can have access to it and setting up groups and events quickly can be a doddle.

That about covers things for me

 

[Raytrace3D]

I quit Facebook in 2010, Instagram in 2015, Twitter in 2012. Seriously, who uses that crap.

 

[axiomatic13]

I left in January because I could not watch my friends who I thought were intelligent post racist of false information. I will not return. I would rather be ignorant of my peers faults.

 

[Charleschamp]

I turned everything off on Facebook and just use messenger as and when

 

[netman]

Another words.... you were brainwashed by Facebook and now you wised up! ....

I have never joined and never will...even if I get nasty looks from people!

BTW- if you disable or delete your account your contents will not be wiped out...They remain searchable and/or salable for governments' scrutiny.

 

[learninmypc]

FB is safe, what are you talking about lol

 

[Boilerhog146]

Go ahead and stare,while you can .I may be a true sociopath, never had a facebook account ,never will,unless they steal my I.d. and create one. I hate to travel the beaten path, I prefer to pick my own way there and travel a different route back,again, over undiscovered country.I do follow moose paths however ,they just seem to know the best way to go over some of the most inhospitable terrain,I have few true friends ,even fewer peers.I get my true feeling of being connected by being totally disconnected and at one with the wild,until you've tried it ,you wouldn't understand.finding an undiscovered flyfishing spot that is just teeming with monster trout. beats any social media experience, Period.I just hope no one else finds it.Damn Google maps.

 

[Knot Schure]

I registered to comment on this...

I joined FB in about 2008, because I was chasing a skirt that wanted me on it.

By 2010, I was fed up of the data mining, sharing of people's Christmas gifts (not yet given out), people getting themselves fired for public behaviour being unexpectedly exposed, relationships so pubically ended, etc.

The straw that broke the proverbial donkey's back, for me, was the announcement that we'd all have to have @facebook.com email addresses to continue membership. A step too far in my eyes. And it was not implemented (to my knowledge).

Closed the account, never looked back.

Yes, I'm the last to know of events, yes, it curtails my social circle a little bit, but my real friends can email me anytime, or pick up the phone. Sometimes they save / send me stuff they think I should see.

Today, even Call of Duty attempts to sync to FB, as well as an infinite number of other programs. So my 'PeerBlock' has FB & Twitter as added ip-block lists, which keeps them out of my machine.

Excuse me whilst I *proudly* adjust, my tin foil hat.

 

[Knot Schure]

1920's: I am not getting a car, what does a person need that for?
1940's: I am not getting a home phone - what does a person need that for?
1980's: I am not getting a fax machine - what does a person need that for?
1990's: I am not getting a pager - what does a person need that for?
2000's: I am not getting an internet connection - what does a person need that for?
2000's: I am not getting an email account - what does a person need that for?
2000's : I am not getting a cell phone - what does a person need that for?
2005+: I am not getting a texting phone - what does a person need that for?
2010+: I am not getting a smartphone - what does a person need that for?
2015+ I am not getting a facebook account - what does a person need that for?

Point: get what you what, just because you don't need it doesn't mean your situation applies to everyone else. This does not make you stupid or silly. If you want to use something use it, if you don't don't. This applies to facebook, iphones, toyotas or whatever.

I would have moved your 'not getting a cellphone' to 1993, your 'texting phone' to 1996, and your Facebook to the bin.

 

[Angga B]

I quit FB last Nov.

The algorithm in recent years have (in)advertently create echo chambers which strife divisive ideas among people, and worst, friends. To the point that there can be no healthy discussions, again, among friends. Only judgement, hatreds, judgement, hatreds, blind accusations, facts despising. How can that be bearable to any social person alive?

There are many buzzes around FB (in)advertent role in skewing USA's 2016 election. Yet I can see clearly that it has its role in our 2014 election. And it keep screwing us today, and tomorrow, since 2019 is coming. Very frustrating...

 

[Robbie Tobbie]

This being Techspot, it would be a good idea to look past the social aspects also. It is quite clear to me that FB has grown into a monster, by the hands of mr Zuckerberg. The Cambridge Analytica happening showed it, and there is much more I am sure and much more to come.

Just a few things happening with Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp; all owned by mr Z.
Whatsapp is linked to FB, Instagram is turned into a shopping platform, Facebook wants its own crypto coin and the FB-group is big on facial recognition. Especially the facial recognition is worrying. I am sure FB owns a huge datafile, that sooner or later will be sold to governments or security/surveillance organisations. Think what you can do with that. And look how this technique is used in China. Or even look how the NYPD is already using camera's to automatically recognize people and inform yourself of the pitfalls of this.

If you buy this much companies - Whatsapp alone for 19 billion dollars! - there must be big $$ coming in somewhere. Not just by advertising. Why do you think FB/Whatsapp wants you to tag peop-le so much? Why is FB making new apps for tagging people. Wake up and smell the pigs!

As for the social part; people that dont contact you at all, outside FB, were no real friends to begin with. One or two good friends in real life is quite a lot. Much better than a count of 600 on your computer.

 

[Ravey]

I quit FB last Nov.

The algorithm in recent years have (in)advertently create echo chambers which strife divisive ideas among people, and worst, friends. To the point that there can be no healthy discussions, again, among friends. Only judgement, hatreds, judgement, hatreds, blind accusations, facts despising. How can that be bearable to any social person alive?

There are many buzzes around FB (in)advertent role in skewing USA's 2016 election. Yet I can see clearly that it has its role in our 2014 election. And it keep screwing us today, and tomorrow, since 2019 is coming. Very frustrating...

Interesting, I had to remove quite a few people I considered good, personal friends from my facebook over their political views - specifically, their hatred for anyone who didn't agree with their point of view. - What was baffling is that in person, they are all amazing and lovely individuals. So I totally agree that facebook and turn you into a total ranting lunatic.

 

[senketsu]

Facebook and their ilk are good for business, not so good for the individual. From the article;
"is a dream come true for advertisers, marketers and brands as those that can successfully leverage the platform will no doubt have an advantage over the competition."
"We are social beings. Sharing life’s ups and downs as they come is ingrained in our DNA. Facebook is so prevalent, purposefully excluding yourself from that sort of social interaction – modern-day isolation, I’d call it – will wear on you no matter how tough or stone-faced you pretend to be."
I call the 'solution' real talking face to face with the people who are meaningful in your life. If they are, you will make time for each other. If not, are they really friends in the first place? It's worked for thousands of year.
"you’ll field some pretty weird looks when someone learns you don’t maintain a profile"
not in my circle and many I know are on Facebook. If someone did, why would I care?
It seems somehow there is something insecure and spineless about needing all this attention. Build your life and your character and you should be confident enough in yourself IMHO.