Tuesday, March 15, 2016

A Letter to Facebook

Dear Facebook,

It might be time to say goodbye.

I've been toying with this possibility for a while. Here's what started it all. I read an article that explained that to determine if a relationship is toxic, consider how you feel after a meeting or encounter. If the relationship is healthy, one typically feels great after an encounter, energized, hopeful, happy. If the relationship is toxic, one feels drained after an encounter. More and more lately, when I spend time with you, I don't feel great afterwards. You leave me feeling a bit... empty.

Oh, don't get me wrong - you are enticing. You offer the siren call of entertainment, belonging, friendship. But the truth is, you don't really deliver. What happens instead is that you suck me in to your dramas - bits of information that I probably don't really need to know. When I'm with you, you choose what grabs my attention. I think it might be time for me to choose what grabs my attention. Time for me to get my time back.

There are reasons not to leave you, to be sure. You are how I promote professional writing. You are how I keep in touch with friends from high school and college and former jobs who aren't on texting status. Are these reasons enough to stay together?

I'm still thinking. This isn't a breakup for sure. Yet. But for now, I do think some time apart to reflect wouldn't be a bad thing. Either way, I'm quite certain you'll be able to go on without me.

For now, all the best. And by the way, it's not me, it's you.

Anna

18 comments:

  1. As much as I love Facebook in some respects (because it does enable me to stay in touch), I totally relate to this. I have had to hide the streams of many of my relatives as the election looms closer.

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  2. I have felt the same way sometimes. I would like to kick it, but living abroad makes it hard, as that's a major way I keep up with people. Good luck on your time away!
    My blog site is aggiekesler.wordpress.com

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    1. I had the same experience when I was living in Sydney. So true!

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  3. I constantly think about breaking up with Facebook. But then they suck me back in with memories from every day (in past years) and I can't quit. Ugh!

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    1. OH I know!! Those are amazing. I'm such a sucker for those.

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  4. I've been wanting to write this letter for at least two years. I've written it in my head, I've even sent it once or twice, but it always comes back return to sender, like it knows I'm not serious.

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    1. Hahahaha! This made me laugh out loud. Well well said.

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  5. Yep! This is a perfect letter! I love the way you say "you suck me into YOUR dramas" like facebook is the culprit. Great reflection, thanks for sharing!

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  6. A great letter! I have been on the fence as well but then a friend from a long ways away posts a picture, sends a note and there I am hooked all over again.

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  7. Loved the ending!!!! We use the professional page and that is easier somehow - less to weed through. We both have personal pages but we mostly use them for work. That makes it easier and less of a time loser. I only spend a certain about of time each day - set a timer and be done! Good luck!
    Clare

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    1. Oh great advice! I'm going to try the timer. Or try only checking every few days.

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  8. This was a great post even for someone who has never had Facebook. One thing I hate being a nonFacebook user is hearing, "You don't know because you're not on Facebook". grrr.... Good luck with the time you're going to spend reflecting. Even if it leads to a breakup, you will have had more time to devote to other things that need your attention. :)

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  9. I love how you frame it like a break up! It really captures (and brings up questions about) the modern day relationship we have with social media.

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  10. I love how you frame it like a break up! It really captures (and brings up questions about) the modern day relationship we have with social media.

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  11. Thank you! Yes- relationship with social media. That's it. It's such a good use of the word relationship. Like all relationships it must be analyzed.

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