In March 2018, I deactivated my Facebook account and I really haven’t missed it. Occasionally, when talking about something they had read or posted on there, family members have said: “Oh, I forgot you aren’t on Facebook anymore.” Otherwise, its absence from my life has been largely unnoticed.
Yesterday, I was so disgusted by yet one more corrupt thing that Facebook had done, that I deleted my account completely. They tell me it will take about thirty days for the deletion to be accomplished, and I don’t really understand why that would be, but I’m quite happy for it to take as long as they like so long as it happens eventually. Now that Facebook is so big that they need their own Supreme Court, I think it’s appropriate to re-evaluate the whole enterprise.
While I was at it, I also deleted my Instagram account. I don’t use it very much and only a few of my family and friends use it, so it won’t be missed either. I used to like putting up the occasional photo because I liked those pics being “liked,” but I realize that those little flutters of approval were doing more for Instagram and, by extension Facebook, than they were for me.
The only Facebook-related application that I am still connected to is Messenger, but I think that will disappear along with my Facebook deletion. My use of Messenger is now limited to my contact with a group of friends who are writers.
I know that there are still lots of ways that my internet use can be tracked and my online personality can be divulged, but I can only do what I can to express my dismay at all that. I’m not ready to cut myself off from internet use completely, so for now, this is the best I can do. Facebook won’t care that I’ve gone, but I am glad to no longer be associated with them.
Facebook, we are done. You turned out to be both a bad boyfriend and a mean girlfriend. According to at least one study, I’ll be happier without you, and I’m already starting to feel better. Now, if I can just wean myself off Twitter, I might be even further along in my e-cleansing, but don’t hold your breath. That might take a little longer.
Snowbird of Paradise 
I’ve been doing a little experiment with social media this week, being mindful of it all. Noticing how my focus is when I use it full tilt and noticing how my focus is when I limit my time spent on it. EYE OPENING to say the least. I had no idea.. so I’m working my way towards some changes, that’s for sure. Congratulations to you!
Thanks, Lael-Heart. I still spend too much time online, but now its mostly news sites. That will be my next target for cleansing.
I have tracking activated on my phone. I’m shocked at how much time I spend being “connected,” mostly emails, text messaging, reading and Facebook! I still have a Facebook account, but increasingly use it, not so much to keep in touch with family and friends, but for information from sites that I find interesting. I’m also the admin on four Facebook pages. I’ve “unliked” sites where the info might be interesting but comments are too negative or judgemental. I don’t need that much ongoing negativity or judgement in my life. I can’t stand Twitter and only look at it if I’m heading out on the highway so I can find out about the road conditions. Or recently about a Shaw problem. Instagram is of no interest to me nor is LinkedIn. I recently created accounts to those two sites so I could provide feedback to someone, but plan to delete as I have no use for them. Messenger is still in my life but used only occasionally to reply to people who only have Messenger.
Good for you, Pat, for being so aware of your social media use. I once had a LinkedIn account but deactivated it a long time ago. (I couldn’t figure out how to delete it at the time, so I just took out all the information in it!).
It has come as a surprise to me to realize how slowly but surely these websites have almost completely captured my attention. It’s time to slowly but surely reverse the process!
What an interesting coincidence: I permanently deleted my account yesterday, and posted about it today also! (Due to a different scandal, though.) When a company has this many missteps, it suggests something is deeply wrong with the corporate culture … and the bottom line is that Facebook lost my trust. What’s interesting is that instead of feeling anxious or sad about my decision, I felt liberated when I pulled the plug. Now I wish I’d done so ages ago …
Snap! That is an interesting coincidence, Heide. Something is definitely and seriously wrong with Facebook’s corporate culture. I suspect many more of us will be pulling that plug.
(For interested readers, there are several informative links in Heide’s blog here .)
Great minds think alike, I guess. 🙂 But I do think you’re right that more of us will be pulling the plug — because that was the refrain I heard over and over as I contacted friends to inform them of my decision and make sure we had a means of staying in touch. Thank you also for linking to my post! Much obliged.
Sigh. Still using FB. The hardest part to give up would be our private family groups. It’s an efficient way to communicate with them, which at 42 members, there are still 3 who have opted out of FB. Zuckerberg and his team do NOT have my best interest at heart; no doubt about that.
I, too, have a large family and I miss keeping up with those who use Facebook. I wish there were an alternative.
Yes, I am still mulling about an alternative. Meanwhile, I took FB App off of my phone, and closed out LinkedIn. I so don’t need that!
Me too! I deleted my FB last year and haven’t missed it! Honestly, I had gotten tired to “scrolling fest” and there came a point where it was just a waste of time and contributing nothing to my life. Glad you took the plunge. 🙂
We are a small but growing group, Sabina!
I deleted my account last year too. I initially had some regrets, but rolling forward, I’m glad I did it.
Like yourself, I do have friends forgetting I’m no longer on there. I think they get quite frustrated at that fact, but hey ho.
I left due to the way Facebook was making me feel. It was making me angry at times, and I also had bullying to contend with. All of that combined with family health worries brought about clinical anxiety – which isn’t nice at all. I wasn’t sleeping, was forgetful and couldn’t shake the rapid heartbeat. I was a mess.
After ten years of the same rubbish, I decided to end my relationship with the Zuckerberg beast. I’m glad I did.
It’s amazing how liberating it is to be away from all that nonsense.
I turned to WordPress, and have found everyone to be on a similar wavelength. Everyone is ever so friendly. It’s heartening to see so many good people out there.
The trolls can stay on Facebook.
I do miss keeping up with my extended family and distant friends, but I do not miss the political polarization that was increasingly apparent. The people I know aren’t really all that different from each other, but you wouldn’t know it from the political postings and the conspiracy theory stuff. I don’t miss any of that.
I agree that WordPress is a friendly place. I enjoy following along with lots of very good people in various parts of the world.