# Facebook is the worst. Thinking about getting rid of it **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 5, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354 "2022-04-05T22:23:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/1 "2022-04-05T22:23:16Z")
I’ve been reported countless times. Last one was for saying: “Yeah. Most men suck.” Yet, whenever I report someone, they get off saying some vile shit. I’ve also been repeated for being sarcastic, and meaning the opposite of what I’m saying. What’s the point of communicating anyway? Almost anyone willing to participate in discourse are Republicans. I honestly think people are tired of interaction with them, and just let them give their shitty take without challenging them. Fuck Zuckerberg. That puke is sketchy as shit. Going to right wing sources to make up harmful trends that TikTok users are supposedly doing… Twitter is next. Anyone else get rid of FB? Thinking about it? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/2 "2022-04-05T22:41:57Z")
I should. I signed up years ago, but I haven’t looked at my page in over 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/3 "2022-04-05T22:42:02Z")
Get better friends ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/4 "2022-04-05T22:44:09Z")
Friends? No… seriously, I NEVER talk to friends on Facebook. I don’t even use Messenger much. I use Signal or something else. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/5 "2022-04-05T22:49:34Z")
Facebook is not designed for discussions or debates. It’s designed so you can show off your lifestyle to your friends (and they theirs to you). Trying to discuss issues on Facebook is like trying to write the Great American Novel on toilet paper. In invisible ink. And then using it for its original purpose. So if discussion of issues is all you attempt to use it for, yes, by all means turn it off. Save yourself the grief. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/6 "2022-04-05T22:52:47Z")
Facebook blows fucking ass, and getting rid of it was one of my life’s greatest gifts to myself. If you want to know for sure which of your friends and family are racist, intolerant assholes, it’s good for that. If you want to reunite with someone from junior high who is a racist, intolerant asshole, Facebook is your answer. Pull the fucking plug. (By the way, Aunt Rita, fuck off!) ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/7 "2022-04-05T23:18:25Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Facebook is not designed for discussions or debates. Are you kidding? They actively try to hilight contentious shit. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/8 "2022-04-05T23:19:24Z")
I enjoy Facebook, especially during the past couple of years, but I sure can understand why other people may not. If it’s not for you, get rid of it. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/9 "2022-04-05T23:23:16Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I should. I signed up years ago, but I haven’t looked at my page in over 10 years. This is me too. I don’t even know my password. I signed up because as a computer professional, I felt I should know something about it. Meh. Relatives and I suppose some friends are on it, but I do just fine without. Not that I don’t care, but I have zero interest in making a 100 friends or likes or whatever. I’m doing just fine thank you very much. I’m too busy as it is. Don’t care what someone hade for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/10 "2022-04-05T23:25:58Z")
I use it to communicate with my children and a few select friends. No others need apply. My feed is very quiet, just like I like it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/11 "2022-04-05T23:32:54Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > > > Facebook is not designed for discussions or debates. > > Are you kidding? They actively try to hilight contentious shit. I’m talking about design, not marketing. The flow of discussions is impossible past one or two answers to a post. Of course they try to highlight contentious shit, because usage is profitable to them compared to non-usage. Your participation pays their bills. If all you get out of it is frustration, then your frustration is paying their bills. I can see no downside, as you have described it, to your stopping the use of Facebook entirely. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/12 "2022-04-05T23:40:34Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > Are you kidding? They actively try to hilight contentious shit. Maybe it’s the algorithm, but I rarely scroll past a post that gets my blood pressure up or interested in giving my 2 cents for debate. The non-friend stuff is usually stupid shit like “only 10% of people can solve this puzzle!” It’s also possible that my brain filter just skips past stuf, but I’m looking at my page now and scrolling, and the first 30 posts are nothing but lost dogs, a Southern Poverty page, a bunch of posts about New Haven, Michigan, a South Side Chicago group, food, more food, more lost dogs, music stuff, photography stuff. a data science ad, etc. I’m scrolling, scrolling, scrolling and I don’t see a single thing that riles me up. Of course, very long ago I’ve unfollowed people whom I don’t feel like seeing posts from, but am happy to be friends with – it’s a pretty short list – but that helps curate what I see. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2022, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/13 "2022-04-05T23:46:21Z")
The more you use social media, the less happy you are, generally speaking. Some of that is correlational, but we’ve established specific mechanisms experimentally for certain questions, too. There’s definitely no reason to force yourself to use it. If you don’t substitute it with other sorts of communication you might lose touch with people who use social media as their main method of keeping track of people, so you’ll want to establish/strengthen communication with people outside of social media, but in general most people are happier when they cut out social media. I’ve had friends for decades who I like talking to and hanging out with and who would never say half the dumb shit they say on social media in person, but something about social media makes you want to bring out your dumbest ideas. I wish I never knew their social media personas. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/14 "2022-04-06T00:02:50Z")
Oh, wait. I just realized – I also use the Facebook Purity plug-in as of several months ago. I get along with Facebook fine – no problems there for me. I find it a net positive. But I have seen a number of people take a break or completely quit, and it’s usually because they engage with the bullshit part (in my opinion) of Facebook and get into arguments. Facebook is a terrible venue for debate. You’re just wasting your time and fraying your nerves if you get into it. But for those for whom Facebook was getting to, leaving was absolutely helpful. Certainly, if Facebook doesn’t work for you and is causing you to get amped up, leave it. Your psyche will thank you for it. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/15 "2022-04-06T00:13:54Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I’m talking about design, not marketing. The flow of discussions is impossible past one or two answers to a post. Ah… I get where you’re coming from now. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/16 "2022-04-06T00:18:42Z")
But Facebook is an emergency back-up way to access the group, and through a link, to here. Sure I’d lie if I said it wasn’t fun to BS with you all off line… but if I cut that link… it’s like an astronaut cutting his cable on a space walk. I might not be able to find my way back here… or even through to any of you. I hate FB, but I don’t see an upside to deleting it (yet). There’s too much to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/17 "2022-04-06T00:53:46Z")
I use FB to sometimes contact people I know but don’t talk to often, and it helps me remind me about people’s birthdays. That’s it. It seems to have no other useful purpose, even though it pretends otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/18 "2022-04-06T00:57:25Z")
I enjoy Facebook for entertainment purposes and keeping in touch with old friends who otherwise I might never see. Unfortunately, some of them have turned into bigoted asshats with extremist political and social opinions I do not share, and sadly, those people have been unfollowed or unfriended. I marvel at the foolishness of people who engage in heated arguments on Facebook. Arguing with complete strangers? Who needs that aggravation? I also have some groups centered on hobbies and other interests I have and enjoy interacting with people around those. Seriously, if a person finds Facebook is controlling their life to the point of distress, they should get rid of it for their own peace of mind. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/19 "2022-04-06T05:10:09Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > Seriously, if a person finds Facebook is controlling their life to the point of distress, they should get rid of it for their own peace of mind. Uh… I agree. But that’s not what’s happening to me. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354/20 "2022-04-06T10:41:47Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Facebook blows fucking ass, and getting rid of it was one of my life’s greatest gifts to myself. If you want to know for sure which of your friends and family are racist, intolerant assholes, it’s good for that… You say Facebook blows ass, then you describe a valuable component of it in the very next sentence. I am being serious. Facebook has provided me with valuable information about some people in my life. mmm [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/facebook-is-the-worst-thinking-about-getting-rid-of-it/962354.md?page=2)