Facebook Addiction...

I quit Facebook (again) yesterday...

I'm struggling mightily to NOT log back in there today.

Does anybody else find that platform to be addictive?

Were you able to successfully quit it?

Not understanding why it takes hold like it does...

Here's to hopefully making it through Day #2 of Facebook withdrawal!

🤞

I find all those social platforms to be addictive. It’s no surprise, and no malfunction on our part, these sites are designed to be addictive. They use human psychology for their own benefit, mostly manufacturing ways to keep you on the app/platform for as long as possible to attract advertising partners and make a lot of money.
Social apps also have a beneficial side, the ability to connect, learn and share from all around the world, and if it wasn’t for the profit side of it it would be a wonderful tool.
PFlowers, I find audio books can take the place of scrolling, it keeps my mind engaged in a similar way, a constant inflow of information, and I’ll choose an audiobook every now and then that explains the psychology of addiction, or talks about the nature of desires, or something relating to the spirit, something that fills me with renewed strength to motivate me to steer clear of negative hobbies.
I’ve quit Facebook a few times too, I’ve quit all the things I’ve quit several or many times before it stuck, so I hope you don’t beat yourself up if you do find yourself back on FB, just quit again, and again
Even quitting takes practice.

Thank you, @ReptileInYourHead ...

I keep reminding myself how many times I had to quit before I finally quit smoking...

The audiobooks sounds like a good alternative to check into.

I already have a library app and read at least one book a week...

Come next selection, I'll make it an audiobook!

My heart goes out to you.

It is hard to be free of a social media addiction like Facebook.

I find that I am drawn to Facebook when I am either experiencing boredom or loneliness. I have found solutions to these two problems and my addiction to Facebook has lessened.

I know that what works for one person might not work for others. Sadly I can only share what works for me.

I admire your courage and motivation. I am rooting for you!!!

Thank you, @Yaowen...

I appreciate you sharing what worked for you.

I also appreciate your encouragement and support!

The temptation is great, but...

I'm determined to make it through Day #3 without my Facebook Fix!

Well done. Keep going. One hour at a time, one day at a time.

I dip in and out of FB, and other social media platforms (of which this site is also an example), but I recognise how damaging it can be to my mental health if I don’t control it. Before I post anything, or even open the apps and websites, I try and ask myself these questions; Why am I doing this? Who is this benefiting? Am I putting off doing something of better value?

Quite often I can deter myself from accessing or posting by thinking about the people who are getting rich and benefiting from our information sharing.

If I get to a point where I think I’m not using it in moderation, or it’s harming me, then I’ll stay away for a period of time, just to get some perspective and prove that I’m not developing an addiction.

It will be interesting to know how much better you feel after a week, and then a month of abstinence.

Jeff.

Thank you @NovaBlaze ...

I've been asking myself questions too, like...

What benefit do I get from it; how do I feel before signing in to it and after signing out of it?

And the BIG ONE about what the owners of the platform are benefiting from my presence on their site...

I have also oft wondered why it is that being so connected can also feel so disconnected simultaneously.

Appreciate your encouragment and support...

I love this question, @Pflowers. I ask myself the same thing. I know I desire social connection, and yet it causes me such pain at times and leaves me feeling so alone.

I read a book called “Sapiens” by Noah Harari, which explained about the evolutionary advantage that Homo Sapiens had in terms of not only higher cognitive ability, but being capable of working cooperatively in significantly large social groups. If I remember correctly, he talks very specifically about our capability to interact in the form of social gossip. I think this is where social media platforms hit the gold mine, in terms of exploiting something that comes to us very naturally.

However, I think there’s a downside to this, in that if your mental health isn’t in a good place, it can leave you feeling very isolated.

Jeff.

Day #4...

Jonesin' for it something fierce...

I miss the cloud appreciation society, I miss the local community bulletins page, I miss James Spann's weather page, I miss the local National Weather Service page, I miss the storm chaser I follow that posts the most awesome photos...

Strangely, I don't miss the "friends" part though... Out of about 50, I can count on one hand the ones I could call in an emergency and know they'd be there... Again, that part about being so connected yet feeling simultaneously disconnected at the same time... I mean what's the point in having all those "friends" if you can't count on them when it matters most?!

Ah, well...

I've already decided that if I do backslide like a Sunday Morning Preacher on a Rowdy Saturday Night, that I will not be soliciting or accepting any friend's request this go round and will just participate in the pages that interest me and bring me joy...

Here's hoping to make it through Day #4 though...

Wish Me Luck!

🤞

I am also a cloud appreciator, not via any official group mind you, but I do appreciate those clouds!

Let's see...

I went on FB on Monday to delete my account & haven't been back since!

So technically I guess today is really Day #4 that I haven't been on there?

At any rate, I've gone the whole week without going there...

I'm proud of my accomplishment so far!

Thank you everyone for your kind words of encouragement and support...

That’s fantastic. Well done. I think it’s good to have mentioned it here on this forum too, as it’s good to have a bit of support, and perhaps a reminder of what you’ve committed to do.

Keep going. It will be interesting to see how much better you feel after a couple of weeks.

Jeff.

Another day without Facebook...

I'm disabled and live in chronic pain.

I utilize various online activities as distraction & coping mechanisms.

Facebook was one of those.

So, yeah, I miss it; but not enough to go back on there yet.

In the meantime I've discovered Mahjong to add to my list of puzzles and games I like to play.

I've also discovered a new author that I like and am looking forward to reading more of her books.

I tried the audio versions of books, but prefer the actual reading instead.

I have listened to some podcasts in the past though, and recall that I do like those.

Perhaps I'll add one or two of those to my list of things to do...

So, into Day #5 Without Facebook I boldly go (no pun intended)!

That makes the task of quitting even harder. It’s good that you have discovered other distractions though - and equally good that you’re thinking about the benefits of abstaining from Facebook.

It must seem so tough at the moment. Hopefully it will get easier. Keep going.

Jeff.

Day #6 Without Facebook...

Whew, Boy!

Sure could've used it this morning!

We had a severe weather outbreak, and I usually follow that on there...

I've decided that I may try to go back but start over new and not send or accept any friend requests.

Only follow the weather pages I'm interested in...

As well as the one support group for my particular disability.

Gonna ponder that some more before acting on it though.

If I were the deceptive kind...

I'd use the name I picked while considering gender reassignment surgery way back in the 90's.

Of course, I chose to forego all that for various reasons, so perhaps not.

It would kinda be empowering though...

Especially in light of all the bullying and abuse the LGBTQ Community is experiencing again at present.

Or maybe I could just go back to my original account and light it up with all kinds of LGBTQ stuff.

That would certainly shock the 💩 out of folks that never knew all that about me!

But, I reckon my main concern at this stage, though, is what's going to happen to Social Security...

Losing benefits that I paid into for 40+ years is a bit more concerning to me at this stage!

Maybe it’s about all things in moderation, @Pflowers. There are few things I’ve found Facebook really useful for - groups is one of them; I have a few interests I like to follow via groups.

For me it’s about recognising when it becomes detrimental. If you’re following someone or something that begins to hurt you, then block it out, rather than leaving completely. On the other hand, at times the whole thing can just become completely toxic and then I find a period of abstinence is best.

It’s a case of doing what’s best for you at the time. You can choose what’s healthy for you.

Six days is a good effort though.

Jeff.

I agree, @NovaBlaze...

Moderation is key!

I'm really proud that I've proven to myself it's not the end of the world if I stay away for a bit.

I certainly appreciate your kind words of encouragement and support...

They've definitely helped!

I also think that moderation is key with these platforms, and that six days is a good effort (staying away for six days). Thanks for sharing this Pflowers, NovaBlaze and all!

This is me! I mean, i use other sites than Facebook, but this is exactly the issue. Not really actual friends. It's all an illusion. And then people follow me and i dont always want to follow them back or continue to follow them, but i have that guilt. Also, I've never had anything go "viral" and so many of my "friends" do. And then following celebs is a mixed thing because on one hand, they can be interesting and share news, but on the other hand, they get all the attention and I am again reminded of how i mean nothing, to them or anyone.

So yeah. I dunno. And someone in one of these threads mentioned gow it is bad when you are in a mood. I was in one yesterday and probably said some stupid stuff. I can't just step back. I always have to like make it obvious I'm going through something.

I guess i am looking through these threads because i am addicted to people and attention. God! I hate the connotation of "attention seeking behavior" as negative, because doesn't everyone want attention at times? Yes, i may be addicted to it, but that doesn't mean i am not suffering as much or more than those who have to listen to me! Maybe i should make my own thread on this subject. But i think I've spent enough time here already tonight.

I do not want to quit Facebook which serves a wide array of useful purposes in my life. I do want to limit it's use to short windows of time. I have purchased a Blocksite subscription and figured out how to block sites, for some time, on the computer in the browser. But I cannot blocks apps. I put them on the block list on my smartphone, but they are still accessible. Will write to their support asking for help.

My problem is mostly with the smartphone. I must have it for:

- Slack at work
- migraine tracking app
- food tracking app
- fitness tracking app
- water intake app... How I wish there were one app for all that tracking

Messenger

Whatsapp

Telegram

YouTube and YouTube Music

Audible

Every other app an go to hell as fast as I am concerned. Can and should. But... That means I need granular controls with an almost and a dentist, and that I have not figured out yet.

I also have the dumbest habit of check my email and messaging apps too many times a day. It is bizarre, but I do not know how to unlearn it. I think it makes me dumber and dumber, unable to focus and produce deep quality output. Probably everyone who has a smartphone is similarly afflicted.

You’re not alone. This stuff is incredibly addictive. The clever people who build this stuff know this and exploit us accordingly. It often helps me to think about this fact when I think I’m getting overly reliant on my phone. Every time I use my phone I’m making the tech billionaires that little bit richer.

It’s a case of building new habits. I leave mine at home now if I’m going out for a while. I’ve used “excuses” to carry it with me in the past, like using my phone for contactless payments, but it’s just as easy to leave my phone at home and carry my bank card with me.

If I’m at home I’ll leave my phone in another room, preferably upstairs, where I know I’ll lose the enthusiasm to keep going and checking it. I mostly have it on silent now all day.

It’s not easy, but like most things, if you really want to break the habit, then you can.

It’s a horrible feeling, being reliant on these devices.

I have actually discovered that it is preferable to use cards and not contactless payments and here is why;

I use an aggregator website that links to all my bank and credit card accounts and presents all my transactions in one global list. Then I categorize them : groceries, health and medicine, rent, internet, phone, electric bill, clothes, restaurants etc. so transactions made with bank cards clearly identify the merchant. Transactions made via contactless payments such as Google Pay have those weird very long strings in them and it is very hard to see what I paid for and whom I paid. Sometimes I need to go to the website of the bank to see the transaction there where it is clear. What a waste of time. No, cards are better. Unless, of course, you truly want contactless to avoid touching surfaces for fear of catching a virus. Plus, for me it is literally faster to get a card out of the wallet than to get the phone, open the payment app, and find the card in the app with which I want to pay.

Join me if you wish: Digital Minimalism