We're not even two weeks into a new year and so much has already happened. Most of it tediously tiresome. Can we just have less drama please?!
The past year was not fun for many reasons. Between inflation, politics, Etsy non-sense and everything AI it was all just a bit too much of a downer.
What is it about the start of a new year that makes us want to press the reset button? Whatever the psychology behind it I'm smashing the reset button on many fronts and one of my first steps is to deal with how I use social media going forward. Which is to say, I really won't be.
I've already left Twitter behind the day Musk took over. The site never really offered my anything useful anyhow.Facebook on the other hand has been a part of both my personal and business life for more than 15 years.
But with the constant bombardment of ads, suggestions of content I have zero interest in and a questionable approach to utilizing AI, I had to stop and ask myself if this was a platform I really wanted to be aligned with. And answer came back as a resounding no.
Some time ago I cut back significantly on my use of the platform after Facebook was fined $5 billion by the FTC for privacy violations. I haven't engaged significantly with content on the site since, I don't like or follow anyone and I put all my 'friends' on mute. At the time this reduced my news feed to absolutely nothing. Which was perfect.
These days however, despite my limited interactions, Facebook insists on filling my feed with content I have no interest in or things they think I'll be interested in because they are spying on me as I use the internet. Which let's be honest, is just gross.
Zuckerburg hit a new low this year though. And I'm just not willing to participate anymore. Fake accounts run by AI? The elimination of fact checking? Facebook users to moderate content themselves! wtf.
[ Just a quick note about the issue of censorship; my personal viewpoint is that a balance of free speech and censorship on social media is necessary for a healthy society. There should be rules. ]
These two particular social sites have already proven to be toxic to society. Amplifying hate, violence, misinformation, propaganda and extremism. I have a hunch that history is not going to look back on all this very favorably.
Simply put, it just doesn't fit with my own morals.
For now, my FB exit is simply me not showing up anymore. I'm not deleting my account... yet. But I won't be logging in unless I absolutely need to contact someone that I have no other means of reaching.
And therein lies my biggest dilemma with Facebook... it's original purpose. My very small group of 'friends' consists of extended family who live far away and very dear old friends who I connected with only periodically; and I value the ability to do so. I expect at some point I will get round to hitting the delete button though.
My business page serves as a link to my shop and I do get the occasional click thru even without my active participation. I've placed an announcement on that page to let people who land there know that I'm not going to be using the platform anymore.
So as it stands, I'm taking up space, but Facebook gives to me without me giving anything more to them.
I'd love to hear your own thoughts on the subject.
Shawnna
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