Nowadays, everyone uses social media sites like Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with friends and family. C’mon, who hasn’t tried to find someone on Facebook? It’s human nature to be curious and want to see what your friends are up to on Facebook, but social media can quickly become an addiction — or at least a huge time-waster. When I began over-sharing, getting involved with Facebook drama, and spending too much time updating my status, I decided to break-up with Facebook.
I had done it once before, having left for over a year before returning to Mark Zuckerberg’s ad-generating, information collecting empire. A few months ago I decided to create another account, promising myself I would only use Facebook casually. After a few months, it was the same old annoying experience. I had a ton of Facebook “friends” I had never met in person, I was becoming involved in internet drama, and spending too much time checking out everyone’s pointless Facebook status updates. This time, I didn’t delete my Facebook account all together (because I’m the administrator of a Facebook fan page) but I came up with some ways to break my Facebook habit and ensure that I wouldn’t get sucked in again.
I created a Blog
I decided if I wanted to share my thoughts whenever I wanted, post pictures, and share potentially controversial opinions, I would do it on my own terms and in my own way. This way, if people didn’t like it they simply didn’t have to read it. I wrote a humorous post breaking up with Facebook. Creating a blog ensures that I won’t overshare on Facebook or offend people with my opinions. My blog is my personal piece of the internet that doesn’t have to go through Facebook first.
I Deleted Facebook “Friends”
I unfriended anyone on my Facebook friends list who wasn’t a friend in my actual life. As you can imagine, this whittled down a lot of people. I also unfriended people who were barely acquaintances and who wouldn’t miss my presence in their lives or vice versa. This helps me spend a lot less time reading about what virtual strangers were doing.
I Managed My Information
I went through my Timeline Review and manually deleted many Facebook updates as well as the vast majority of my pictures. I no longer wanted Facebook to have access to my thoughts, feelings, and pictures anymore — as they use much of that information to target users for advertising. This also helps limit the interaction I have with people, thus ensuring less time spent on Facebook.
I Managed My Newsfeed Updates
On Facebook, users can control who they see status updates from in their newsfeed. I changed my settings so I only receive status updates from people I truly care about (true friends and family members). It’s an “out of sight, out of mind” approach that works to vastly reduce time wasted on Facebook.
I Uninstalled My Facebook App
A huge way I was able to break my “Facebook addiction” was to uninstall the social media app on my droid smartphone. I found myself checking and updating Facebook multiple times per day through my phone, so I removed the app all together. This is probably one of the biggest keys to reducing time spent on Facebook.
I haven’t left Facebook entirely, but I’ve reduced my time and interactions on Facebook by about 90% by using these techniques. I’ve been so much more productive, and I feel good knowing that I’m controlling my information and that it’s not being sold or targeted to advertisers. I like knowing that I can keep in touch with those I love without being a slave to status updates.
