i decided to stop using the site, because it’s not conducive to how i view community. people seem to want to maintain superficial levels of conversation; and when you actually try to have any sort of dialog/deep critique forward, you either get bombarded with insulting comments about your character, or simply ignored. what is the point of using a site like facebook if you don’t want to have anything beyond superficial connections? that gets old really fast. my brain requires more than superficiality.
i’m also not into the idea of being labeled a ‘consumer’ when i use the site. i have used it mainly to share socio-political news and information which otherwise does not get covered by major media. i never used the site to speak about what i ate for breakfast, what shoes i purchased or who i found attractive. i never shared information i felt was extremely private, since it’s the internet. the ads on facebook never swayed me to purchase anything they showed.
my decision to leave facebook was more political than social. although the purpose of the internet is not to protect privacy; the callousness in which zuckerberg treats those who ‘patronize’ his business warrants as much of a boycott from me as any other business which disrespects its ‘customers’.
when i left, i had no desire to return. when they give you that 14-day window to return, i thought that window took too long. i did as myself if that was a way for the site (as well as the government) to gather all of the information on you before you go. interestingly, the second i deleted the account i forgot about it. it’s a wonderful feeling to not have the site on your radar. there were many who were sad i left and asked me to return. i’ve met some great people on the site i continue to communicate and share friendships with. however, if a business (or site) does not meet any of my needs, then i don’t see the point in continuing.
