A note for a friend and for everyone else, including me.
I popped on to Facebook and saw a post that you had just returned from being stuck in FB purgatory for a few days. I doubt you did anything that deserved punishment from their idiotic moderation, so I’m not writing about that.
Instead, I wanted to drop some unsolicited advice about social media cause this shit is a parasitic a brain suck. I don’t think I’ll ever fully delete my account, cause I enjoy visiting once a month to skim quick updates…and occasionally find some cool stuff.
However, I’m really happy that I’ve made a concerted effort to severely restrict FB’s reach into my life. Quitting social has saved me a bunch of time and more importantly it’s freed me to be present with the kids. I didn’t realize how these addictive algorithms were constantly sucking a brain tax until I drastically cut myself out of their system. Seriously, quitting Facebook last summer was as difficult as quitting smoking ten years ago.
I fully admit childcare is fucking boring. It isn’t fun to have an adult’s Ferrari brain stuck pushing tricycles around the house. But infecting oneself with social media isn’t a good answer. This is my one regret from my daughter’s early years – I feel that I half assed the childcare and got even less out of the experience.
One of the best quips about parenting is “the days are long, but the years are short”. Next thing I know, she’s finishing first grade. Soon she’ll be off hanging out with her friends.
Normally I would have kept these opinions to myself, but you’re a good buddy and I hope you’ll avoid my mistake. In the end, everybody gotta figure out how to run their own lives and decide how the internet will support such goals. I’m not going to judge anyone on how they use social media, but I thought I’d offer a little perspective for your consideration.
Be intentional however you choose to use these sites. Make sure you’re using the tool, not the one being used.
Take care, and when this goddamn pandemic settles down, I hope we’ll get a chance to break some bread.