You log into Facebook just to check what friends and family are up to and if they’ve posted any new photos. It doesn’t take long before an hour or more has passed where you are clicking on photos and articles, liking posts, and commenting. How many times in a day or week do you find yourself scrolling through other people’s posts and checking pages of people you don’t even know? It doesn’t take much for personal free time spent checking Facebook and other social media sites to take time spent with someone in your real life.
If this first reason isn’t enough to consider spending less time on Facebook, consider these nine other compelling reasons to log-in in less and show-up more:
- How do you define friends?
The definition of friend has become fuzzy in today’s social media world. If you consider a friend someone that truly cares about you, that would be there for you when you need it, then it is likely that all your Facebook friends won’t make the cut. They may “like” your posts or comment when convenient, but most won’t be available in real time or when you truly need it.
- It brings out the worst in people.
What happened to the golden rule of treating others how you wish to be treated? From the safety of a computer, people feel entitled to judge, often bashing those that don’t agree with their views. Values and beliefs come under question and what we deem important in life is now not only shared with those close to us, but with the public.
- Competing with friends gets old.
You see your Facebook friends’ posts with amazing vacation photos, the front row seats from a concert they recently attended, or that beautiful bouquet of roses their loving spouse gave them. You feel compelled to post something of your own to keep yourself relevant. It can get exhausting and the competition only makes you feel worse about yourself.
- Facebook uses your data.
You wouldn’t publicize or share your private data with just anyone, so why allow Facebook to access your information and sell it?
- The influence of false news.
Fake news articles posted and shared on Facebook may have influenced the outcome of the presidential election. While we may not know if that is really the case, we do know that Facebook is one of the biggest sources of news today and voters read the fake content. Even with a task force now trying to monitor and remove, it to control or cease the sharing of false stories and misinformation to the masses entirely.
- Social manipulation.
Facebook will suggest friends based on the friends you already have, pages you like or info you may share. These may be subtle tactics to suggest broadening your network, but it is essentially social manipulation.
- Exposure to excessive advertising.
It seems the ads on Facebook now outnumber posts from friends and family. Why do you want to spend valuable time looking at advertisements telling you about a product you recently searched on Amazon last week or a retailer a Facebook “friend” likes.
- Protecting your reputation.
What started as a fun way to share our lives with friends and family, has became a hunting ground for colleges and companies as a way to background check and weed out candidates. Your digital reputation can be impacted every time you post or like something, and any time you are tagged.
- Increasing anxiety and depression.
Research clearly shows that the more time you spend on Facebook, the more anxious and depressed you are likely to become.
Your time is a valuable commodity, as is your health and mental well-being. Why not commit using the time we have wisely?
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