I love connecting with people who would long since be strangers on a semi-regular basis.
I love being able to forge new connections and meet people who I would otherwise not know from around the world.
I love the format of being able to share interesting tid-bits, memes, videos, and sometimes more engaging material.
I love the social organization features. Setting up events, group chats really help me stay on track with 'real life' plans.
Also...
-Some people are annoying and facebook will only amplify that.
-Everyone is sharing their highlight reel, so even don't bother comparing.
-Politics have always been difficult to talk about and facebook doesn't change any of that. (Longer post needed, but I wouldn't say it always makes it worse, depends on a lot of factors.)
Whether from reasonable expectations or otherwise, I don't *think* I experience some of the psychological negatives that some people mention....(I don't think they aren't there, but that I combat them okay.)
But...
...it has some downsides. Mainly, for me, it becomes a HUGE time-suck. I've seen some people go on facebook fasts, and this isn't really desirable for me. One) It's my main source of social communication. Two) I use this for my work and other social groups I've managed in the past.
So... Basically, facebook is like alcohol, a little is pretty good, fun and can be a social lubricant. A lot is physiologically damaging and can minimize your effectiveness in life. Where that balance lies probably depends a lot on the individual.
All that to say, I've found a good spot of management, for me, for now, and here are the tips I have that might work for you too.
1) I disable most of my notifications. I basically limit it to likes on post and comment replies. Basically, only things that are directed towards me and might require my response. Also, likes are fun!
2) I use a lesser known feature called lists. I enjoy reading about politics and things that interest me, but like everyone else on facebook all my friends do not all share all my viewpoints. For instance, I've created a specific politics list such that only people who are worth engaging with can engage. I've tried to prevent myself from being insular by including people of different mindsets, but who are capable of being civil.
3) My newest/favorite tool: The Stay Focused chrome add-in. This tool allows one to limit their access to a particular website to a certain number of minutes per day. (I imagine firefox might also have such tool, so look it up!) Obviously, I've chosen to limit my access to facebook. I still have the messenger on my phone, so people can 'get a hold of me'. I've found a number that works for me and this prevents me from engaging in the endless scroll of doom, which I do find tiring and wasteful.
Otherwise, the best 'tip' I have is learn how to use it. Facebook is a tool, and like many tools you should read the instruction manual first. For instance, understand the privacy settings. Just like there is a difference between drinking a Budweiser vs a Martini, there's a difference between making a restricted post and a public post. There are many resources out there that will teach you the basics of what facebook is and what each feature does. The facebook itself has many great FAQs, and until you truly know what you are doing, proceed with caution!
-Everyone is sharing their highlight reel, so even don't bother comparing.
-Politics have always been difficult to talk about and facebook doesn't change any of that. (Longer post needed, but I wouldn't say it always makes it worse, depends on a lot of factors.)
Whether from reasonable expectations or otherwise, I don't *think* I experience some of the psychological negatives that some people mention....(I don't think they aren't there, but that I combat them okay.)
But...
...it has some downsides. Mainly, for me, it becomes a HUGE time-suck. I've seen some people go on facebook fasts, and this isn't really desirable for me. One) It's my main source of social communication. Two) I use this for my work and other social groups I've managed in the past.
So... Basically, facebook is like alcohol, a little is pretty good, fun and can be a social lubricant. A lot is physiologically damaging and can minimize your effectiveness in life. Where that balance lies probably depends a lot on the individual.
All that to say, I've found a good spot of management, for me, for now, and here are the tips I have that might work for you too.
1) I disable most of my notifications. I basically limit it to likes on post and comment replies. Basically, only things that are directed towards me and might require my response. Also, likes are fun!
2) I use a lesser known feature called lists. I enjoy reading about politics and things that interest me, but like everyone else on facebook all my friends do not all share all my viewpoints. For instance, I've created a specific politics list such that only people who are worth engaging with can engage. I've tried to prevent myself from being insular by including people of different mindsets, but who are capable of being civil.
3) My newest/favorite tool: The Stay Focused chrome add-in. This tool allows one to limit their access to a particular website to a certain number of minutes per day. (I imagine firefox might also have such tool, so look it up!) Obviously, I've chosen to limit my access to facebook. I still have the messenger on my phone, so people can 'get a hold of me'. I've found a number that works for me and this prevents me from engaging in the endless scroll of doom, which I do find tiring and wasteful.
Otherwise, the best 'tip' I have is learn how to use it. Facebook is a tool, and like many tools you should read the instruction manual first. For instance, understand the privacy settings. Just like there is a difference between drinking a Budweiser vs a Martini, there's a difference between making a restricted post and a public post. There are many resources out there that will teach you the basics of what facebook is and what each feature does. The facebook itself has many great FAQs, and until you truly know what you are doing, proceed with caution!
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