I’ve tried this once before with less resolve. But I’m closing my Facebook account in late November.
I believe that technology is a tool, and this tool no longer works for me. The first time I resolved to close my Facebook account, it was after I graduated from college. Facebook emerged on some college campuses during my freshman year of college. Students could create profiles using a school email address to log-in. Each college was somewhat insular, but students could communicate between schools as well. As time went on and Facebook gained users, it eventually opened up to work places and high schools. In 2010, corporations and other entities have Facebook profiles. It’s making a lot more money these days than it was at first. Taking a casual view of the public around me, it seems that Facebook gets nearer to being a ubiquitous extension of social life every month.
Facebook’s near ubiquity is one thing that made me reconsider my use of this online social networking tool. It brings four questions to the forefront of my mind. I share them with you because I think they are useful for any user of Facebook to ask.
- Why are some people not using it, even though it is nearly ubiquitous?
- Why are other individuals using it?
- Why are there so many users and what does this large membership mean for our lives?
- Are my reasons for using this worthwhile?
There are many nearly ubiquitous technological tools that most of us have come to accept without questions. I think this is a dangerous way to live our lives. Have we asked ourselves enough questions about cars or cell phones to feel reconciled with all of the changes that they have brought? For the next few weeks, I plan to explore my questions about Facebook on this blog. I want to hear your answers to the questions and share mine. (Aside: this was originally posted on a previous version of my blog & the comments did not get transferred. Apologies to all who had commented there!)
And by late November 2010, I plan to log out of Facebook.