I made a decision today. I made a decision to delete my Facebook account. Let that statement sink in for a moment. I wanted to delete my Facebook account. How does that sentence make you feel? Have you considered how much of your life is involved in a virtual world, that technically is not real? Or is it? How would you go on without your Facebook account. How would you exist without the constant buzzing of an update or a "Like" of your status or picture of the last meal you consumed? As of 2011, Facebook has over 700 million followers and the users share over 30 billion pieces of content per month. That is a lot of cats flushing toilets.
I fully admit that I am a social media addict. I love to post nonsense, news stories, tweet them, like them, love the drama that is created by typing 140 characters at a time, that rush we get when people angrily post why you suck for liking Obama or defending George Bush. We have become addicted to our need for an alter ego. Where we can say and do as we please with impunity. We experience freedom. That in itself, is a powerful feeling few really experience outside of social media.
How did this saga begin you ask? I came to the harsh realization today that I waste a ridiculous amount of time, taking up space, and posting utter nonsense. I am about to start a new job as a vocational counselor and move into my third semester of graduate school. I am studying Rehabilitation Counseling, with an emphasis on substance and alcohol abuse. I spent the better part of the day reorganizing my calendar to see where free time would be and not fall into the trap of last minute cramming. What should have taken less than an hour, took over four. Why? The auto post, pop-up that let's me know someone I know posted something to Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. I had to stop to see what I was missing.
The time wasting and realization that I should be doing something productive made me throw out the status that I was deleting the account. I put up my blog email to contact me, if someone actually wanted to speak to me outside the statusphere. What happened next was beyond disturbing. Friends started commenting by asking if I was ok or if this was a cry for help. Within an hour I received over 25 private messages, asking if I was thinking about hurting or killing myself. I received comments and messages of well wishes, hurt, betrayal, and questions of why are you leaving us. I experienced a slurry of emotions that went from confusion to shock. All I did was say I was taking a break from Facebook and offered another way to communicate with me. The reactions were similar to what I have seen with clients when the discussion turns towards abandonment and the need to feel pleasure and/or control. Social media offers that in abundance.
So, is your Facebook life real? To many, it is. It is an extension of your physical self. Your friends and family take it as seriously as they do if you were sitting in the room with them. Facebook offers the ability to take everyone you know with you in your pocket where you can speak to them at will. I spent the rest of the afternoon reading articles on social media addiction. A survey conducted in 2011 stated that out of 500 people interviewed, 23% of those surveyed experienced feelings of withdrawal from not being able to access social networking sites. Of that 500, 17.3% experienced relapse when they attempted to stop or cut down on their social media exposure. From this question, it is assumed that
the majority of respondents recognized their attempts at reducing social media usage are usually ineffective and described as a failure. By attempting to reduce, they’re recognizing their social media use is a
problem. By attempting to use social media less, they feel that their relationships are suffering, and that they
need more time to keep them cohesive.
My decision? Alas, I'm not deleting my account. I removed the Facebook Apps from my phone and iPad to remove the temptation. Similarly to how an addict throws away a favorite cigarette lighter or dumps a bottle of whiskey in the kitchen sink. Facebook has become a prevalent way to communicate with, well, everyone. I am taking a break and limiting my time online. I want to go out, see people, and experience real human contact. As well as be more productive in my day.
You're more than welcome to join me.
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