Why I Quit Facebook 3 Years Ago

These days when i talk to my friends in person, they would drop information in non-interested tone that will utterly shock me, “what happened????”, “I didn’t know!”, “since when??” is apt to be my response to the events that happened last week, month or even a year ago. So, whenever there are some interesting news happened to them or to someone we know, they will just message me directly.

Only i can change my life. No one can do it for me. -Carol Burnett

See, I quit Facebook 3 years ago so I don’t get gossip and news as much as I should be, or they think I should be. We use social media mainly to socialize, get connected, be informed in current news, and make business and many more of advantage in having these social media, though the effects are different in every person.

Unfortunately, a lot of us misused and abused social media, particularly Facebook. When I started working, and don’t see my friends as often as I would like, I got addicted to it so bad. From the moment i wake up, when i eat, in commute, while walking, at work, when i’m with friends and before i go to sleep and in everything i do, i use Facebook. It consumed me and i become agitated when i don’t browse and get updated to the current events of my “friends”. I was stressed out whenever i post pictures, status or comment on someone else’ post cause i’m afraid of being judged (was is it worthy to post?), i was so stressed out when i read negative and tragic stories, and get mad at local/international news which I don’t have any control of, but that does not stop me for being addictive.

I am a goal oriented person, most of the decisions I make is for my target goal. When I realize that I am moving forward like a thousand years old tortoise towards it, I stop to think, “What is wrong?”, “What do I do that is not enough?”, “How can I improve?” that’s when I realize, why I am not in the place I wanted to be.

I am not equip enough cause instead of developing myself and planning every night in the spare hours i have after work, i spent hours and hours in social media switching from Facebook after another app. That’s when i decided and started to change my lifestyle and be more positive and plan for action. At first, i started “unfollowing” my “friends” and “groups” with negative contents on their every posts. As well as unfriend-ing people that i don’t know much to de-clutter my news feed. I don’t post anymore pictures or updates so that my “curious” friends will see that I am happy. I give myself time limit to use Facebook and other app to give me room to think important things.

During that time, it makes me remember, before when i was in college and way back, i love to read actual textbooks, so eager to learn new things, draw and paint, go outside and walk, talk non-stop when i go out with my friends (I’m the speaker of the group). I miss that feeling and i wanted to go back, hence, I lost interest in browsing and posting in Facebook. Later on, I uninstalled my entire social app on my phone and make double security password on all my account for me to get hassled if i attempt to open it again even in browser. It was a struggle at first; it is like a drug in my system. I have cheated for a few minutes, several times and then felt bad afterwards.

I feel so refreshed, i feel at peace and become more sensitive on my surroundings. More importantly, i have time to do the things that i love doing that feeds my soul and freedom on my time. I learned new things and remember birthdays on my own calendar just like the old times hahaha! I heard gossip and news directly from friends’ voice complete with feelings, action and intonation. I enjoy the surroundings i’m in, the food that i eat and things that I like.

Human always have a self-destructive streak and it happens that it is Facebook for a lot of us, the same as alcohol or cigarette for others. We must not forget why the technology along with the social media was invented, it should give you more benefit than harm and if you think that is not the case in you, be responsible and man up.

Don’t let Facebook or other social media distract you from your goal, if it makes you happy, give you genuine positive result and it is your money-maker then i congratulate you for not being a suck up in the system.

PS: As an average person as i can be, I now use Instagram and Youtube but not as often as before.