Facebook Freedom

It was midnight and my paper was due in a few short hours. Also, I needed to study for the midterm that accompanied it. Unfortunately, my fingers instinctively typed “Facebook” into the browser. Again. I had no new notifications. You would think that two minutes would be enough time for some sort of activity, but there weren’t any new stories.

Exasperated, I took drastic action, I deactivated my Facebook. It took me 45 more minutes to figure out how to do this and then I accidently undid it by signing in. I don’t think that Facebook realizes that if I had the self-control to not log in, I wouldn’t need to deactivate in the first place. By the end of the whole ordeal I was frustrated enough to never get on Facebook again. Until, of course, I started writing my paper again and instantly missed the distraction.

I knew that I had to be strong. I was bet that I wouldn’t last a week, exactly the competitive edge I needed to say goodbye.

Photo from Flickr.com by olga.palma

Staying off of Facebook was borderline impossible. I went through serious withdrawals. Every time my browser was pulled up I intuitively would start typing “Facebook” before the crushing realization that I couldn’t get on it. I missed a lot, including the entire Memes revolution. I did not see the pictures from our weekend in the mountains or the latest Mardi Gras party. I missed multiple Facebook relationship status updates. I felt very much left in the dark. I also got judged for apparently being too cool for Facebook (even though I think the opposite may be true.) I was forced to defend my actions even though my resolve was weak.

I have now spent three weeks off of the illustrious social network. It seems much longer. I’m slowly and steadily learning to enjoy my freedom. I don’t feel the need to be near a computer to check Facebook on a regular (or more-than-regular) basis, something that I think might border on addictive behavior. I talk to people on the phone that I otherwise would only have meaningless Facebook contact with. I feel free from the social dependency that I felt on Facebook.

Some days I miss it more than others, usually on days that I’m looking for distractions from essay-writing, but I’m getting used a Facebook-free life. I am free of the black hole that always seemed to suck up my time and productivity. Being off of Facebook is not always convenient and it throws a wrench in planning group projects, but I’m learning to adjust. Breaking up with Facebook just feels so good. I know that it isn’t a permanent split, I enjoy the pictures too much as a camera-less college kid, but as of now we need our space. I’m using the space to slowly and steadily learn to allot time towards a reality that isn’t attached to a web address.

Think you can cut your ties with Facebook too? Comment below.