I'm catching some blowback about my decision to leave Facebook behind. I've been asked to explain. My reasons are numerous so I decided to post it to my blog.
Facebook makes changes to user settings without notice. Privacy settings need constant monitoring. Simply posting something doesn't always appear to the people intended. Facebook has become a marketing tool rather than a place to socialize with friends. It has become a distribution channel for misinformation.
I enjoy communicating with friends. I try to post thoughts and jokes to amuse and encourage people to think. I avoid political rants and disagreements because I've learned that it's the easiest way to lose friends. I also avoid religious posts because everyone seems to believe or disbelieve differently. Approximately 20% of the posts that appear in my newsfeed don't mention those two subjects. Some of my friends only post about those subjects which makes it difficult to talk about anything else with them. I'm guilty of doing it too.
Seeing the every day lives and challenges of friends has been very cool. Sharing their pictures and ideas makes me happy. Facebook has been a wonderful tool to reunite with friends that weren't forgotten. It has definitely brought joy to me and hopefully most of my friends. I don't want to totally abandon my friends so I'm not closing my Facebook account. While I won't be seeing all posts, I'll check in once in awhile to see how everyone is doing. Best wishes to you and your families, it's been my pleasure to reacquaint myself with some of the best people I've known!
