Taking a Break from Facebook

I decided the other night that I needed a little time off from Facebook. I’m not sure how long I’m going to stay off Facebook, but I just had to not look at it for at least a little while. I took facebook.com off of my bookmarks bar, and I’m glad I did, because it has just become habit for me to click Facebook right after checking my email. I just automatically do it. I’ve found myself going to click it many times in the past couple days. I knew I was on there too much, but the fact that I just click on the site without even thinking about it showed me just how much time I spend on that site.

So why did I decide to take a break from Facebook?

Because Facebook is evil and I should hate it? False.

I think Facebook is a wonderful thing. There is no way I would be connected with so many friends and family without it. I can see pictures of friends all over the country and all over the world. I can share in the joys of weddings and babies and all kinds of blessings in lives of friends. I can also know the struggles and problems friends are facing without them having to call or email me individually. I can offer encouragement and support (or a sarcastic comment) in an instant.

It is also a great community-building tool. As I meet new people I can learn more about them and connect more with them. It is also an easy way to make plans to meet up with friends whose schedules are just as crazy as mine.

So, no I don’t hate Facebook, and I don’t think it’s evil. Then why did I decide to stay off it for a little while?

Well, first, it’s a major time-waster for me. I have many things I need to do and people I would like to call/email/meet with, but I realize these things require set amounts of time so I put them off until I can devote more attention to them. But then I get on Facebook, just to see one picture someone commented on or tagged me in, and end up spending 30 minutes or more clicking, looking, and commenting, when I should have been doing something productive. While spending time on Facebook isn’t wrong, it’s definitely a huge waste of time for me sometimes.

Also, I think many times Facebook takes the place of real community. While Facebook is a great tool for community, it cannot replace actual, face-to-face, in person community. It feels safer than calling people or meeting with people in person. It kind of is safer, but it doesn’t offer the same community or relationship as personal connection does. We all long for meaningful relationships and community, and while Facebook may seem to offer that to us, it can’t deliver on that promise. Just think of how much different you feel after spending 3 hours sitting around laughing with friends versus having a Facebook wall conversation. In the end, we all desire and need actual, personal community.

I’m not writing this to convince you to give up Facebook. I’m not giving it up. I love it. I’m going to try to regulate myself a little more with regards to Facebook time once I do get back on, but I’m not closing my account or anything right now. I would just encourage you to be a good steward of your time and also not use it as an escape or replacement for community in your life. I’m going to try to do the same.