It has been almost exactly one week since I agreed to not use my Facebook, and I have to say the results have been interesting. When I
first learned that this was part of my class assignments I was very annoyed- I will not lie. I was even more annoyed that I had to give up Facebook and make a Twitter because I chose for a very long time not to use Twitter. After this week, I have realized that my Facebook addiction was more serious than I thought, but I think if I made the effort I could eventually give it up for good.
I never really thought of myself as a Facebook addict. I do not post multiple statuses in a day or comment on every single person’s pictures. In actuality, I might post one status a month and change my profile picture every couple of months I must admit I judge the people who are constantly showing up on my newsfeed, but this week made me realize I could be just as addicted as they are. Although I may not constantly post like other Facebook users, I am on Facebook enough to see all of their posts. This was a real eye-opener for me. The first few days of my Facebook fast were surprisingly difficult. I found myself immediately going to the app first thing in the morning or opening up a tab as soon as I turned on my computer. I did catch myself, but I couldn’t believe looking at Facebook was such a natural reflex!
As I tried to figure out why I wanted to go on Facebook so much, other changes in my time spent using my phone and computer happened. Since I could not check Facebook, I have been checking my Instagram way more often. The problem with this is that I do not follow a lot of people on Instagram, so I had to turn to other places for entertainment during my free time. I relied on Pinterest to fill the rest of the void that had been created in my life, but it still was not enough! Facebook had become more than just a filler in my life- it filled EVERY SECOND OF MY FREE TIME!
I will not lie; this realization made me feel like crap. But once I started talking to fellow classmates and my friends about how disappointed I was in my addiction to Facebook, I realized that I use Facebook for a lot more than just reading statuses. Yes, reading those statuses provide entertainment, but if you asked me a minute after I read my newsfeed what those people said I would not be able to tell you. I have come to realize that I rely on Facebook so much because it allows me to connect with the people who are not right infront of my quickly and easily. I am an avid Facebook creeper, but throughout this week when someone was mentioned and I forgot about them or did not know what they looked like, I could not look them up and I found that very frustrating. I also use Facebook to quickly message my friends from home and my family who I do not get to see every day. I could text these people, but I used Facebook to talk to everyone at once while I was also doing other things or I found out something going on in their lives through Facebook and that was why I wanted to talk to them in the first place. Without this tool for socialization, I felt a big void in my life especially during my free time.
Although I am happy to get Facebook back, these last couple of days have been easier. I do not find myself going to check as much or wasting as much time on other websites trying to fill the void. While I will not say losing Facebook has made me more productive, I do think I spent my free time doing better things. I also began to like the feeling of not having my face in my phone; it was very refreshing. I feel that if I do decide to give up Facebook for good one day I will be able to do it, but for now I think I might take week long fasts more often.
P.S.
I am very excited to share my new netiquette knowledge with my fellow Facebook friends
Inconsiderately Polite 