[Patagonia]

I opened a FB page in 2005 for my business; then 5 yrs later I closed the page & the business has been dissolved.
My SO has been on FB since 2004. I've noticed thru the yrs that he spends a significant amount of time on FB....saying it's regarding work....ummm it's a social media page.

My family has pushed me for yrs to use FB although I tell them I do have an email address if they need to contact me. But this does not satisfy them & im tired of the harassment.

Months ago I joined an intramural sports league & was told I HAD to open a FB account! They would not email me. So I opened a page...for a month...& ended up leaving the league & promptly closing the page.

My siblings had a surprise bday party for my sister last month that the invite went out on FB. I was only made aware of this at the last minute. I could not attend on short notice, but was harassed with texts from them the night of the party.

Today I found out I have a new great niece....that was born 4 days ago. I didn't know this.
Sometimes I feel embarrassed to ask about family things bec I get these answers of "well if u we're on FB you'd know!"
Even my SO says it's a "pain" if I ask him to look something up on FB for me. Really?

Maybe it's my age....but I'm the youngest sibling or my lack of trust in technology or my deeper commitment to myself & where I need to spend my time, but I really feel I'm going to have the last laugh....someday.
Someday.

I swear I'm going to write a trilogy about a rapture of those on FB & Fitbits! I wonder who will still be around with me!!

[iwanttohavehope]

I opened a FB account after years of resisting it. It was only get access to a website that had relocated at my old access level. I connected it to a junk email account to keep the invasiveness down. They ask for too much personally information I feel.

Combined with the fear people will find me, ask me how I've been and I'll feel the need to fake it (because I'm in a shambles) keeps me from doing anything with it. It helps long into some websites easier is about all!

[~Christina]

I only put what I want on Facebook and I am very picky who I accept as friends.

I enjoy seeing how everyone is doing and can keep up with my daughter lol

If Facebook doesn't appeal to you there is no reason to have one and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone.

[Patagonia]

I understand the surface thinking of using a social site as a means of communication.
Kind of like the telephone.

I've heard many people say they only put certain things on FB. Only certain information, but I usually ask is this a reflection of your avatar self? Who might that be?

And then there is the time issue. How much time is spent in front of a screen, and for what purpose.
And I'm pointing fingers at myself too when I binge watch crap during my dark times.

Does anyone that's having a depressive episode, flashbacks, self harm urges, suicidal triggers...you know the real ****....does that get posted on ones daily FB page??? Or do we relegate ourselves to sites like these bec it's safer, more accepting for mh population.

[unaluna]

Huh maybe thats why i dont get invited much to family stuff? Aside from the fact that i am kinda anti-social. I have a teeny tiny facebook page, with like 4 friends.

[winter loneliness]

I am usually on FB and communicate a lot with friends and acquaintances.

I am off FB now. I get mouthy sometimes, when I am manic.

Drop it and don't look back. Your time is better spent elsewhere.

[Crazy Hitch]

I confess I"m no help because I'm on Facebook daily. It's the best way for me to see pictures from life's events from my family all over the world.

[MickeyCheeky]

You don't have to use Facebook if you don't want to.. I understand why you'd feel annoyed.

FB is over rated. I like PC better!

[Sunflower123]

If you don't want to use FB, stand your ground. The people in your life should respect this and should have given you those invitations via email or phone. That's on them. Sorry you are getting hassled.

I understand how you feel. Some people are obsessed with FB and spend far too much time there imo - I am somewhere in the middle and find it to be very useful for different purposes.

I have a blog and a sister FB page that I use for the blog where I post daily messages to help uplift others. I also use that page to advertise my blog to new people and gain a bigger audience for my blog and FB page, so I find it very useful to drive traffic.

I also use FB to keep abreast of distant friends' lives since they all use it, except one good friend. She refuses to get on there and feels like you do.

Then I use it to learn about local events and happenings that I may want to attend, and learn which friends of mine will also be attending that event.

But mostly, I find it indispensable for my blog and for keeping in touch with my friends.

[Patagonia]

Thank you for the responses. I do understand that people use FB for different reasons. Some use it as a political platform like my SO & tells me what he's writing is "important." But in the grand scheme of things...is it? Bec it's led him to "losing friends or blocked" by others bec of political POV. And yet this angers him. I feel we've lost the basic values of speaking to each other IRL, understanding how to argue & see other POV, yet still be valued as a human.

I understand my family "wants" me on there to "stay in contact", when to me that sounds like they wanto know what I'm doing, but not actually talk to me irl. A computer screen is good enough. I still will not join a social forum. I like it here & that's all I use. I'm trying to get rid of apps on my phone instead of put more on them where my SO is doing the opposite.

So what image r all these people on FB trying to convey to other people? I'm better than you? My pics are better? My life is perfect? Is it an accurate representation of who we are.... or is it just the good stuff?

Frank Abignale Jr. just released an article that stated the biggest bank scams are coming off of FB bec so much personal information is being put on there. It's easy pickings.

And new companies are making even more money by telling us we need to digitally save our avatar for future generations. Of course you can alter your avatar & your pics....but is that really a representation of who we are?

I have no desire to save myself digitally for the future. I'm very happy that when I google my name nothing comes up! Will my digital footprint make a difference compared to the other 7.5 Billion other people out there.