The inevitable Facebook backlash has begun, or perhaps it is well underway and I am just noticing its vitriol now. I just saw a someone on Facebook joined a group called “Quit Facebook Day”. Oh, the irony. And that day is May 31. You gonna quit?
I have been proponent of Facebook for a long time. Years, in fact. I played Bejeweled Blitz until I saw gems floating on the back of my eyes as I tried to sleep. I stalked and found dozens of people I thought I would never find again. I have rekindled friendships with some amazing people, received support and congratulations for accomplishments, satisfied my curiosity about a number of exes and wasted a goddamn lot of time. I know of events, planned events, learned way to much about people, waffled about my relationship status, had fights about what was posted or not posted on Facebook, and discovered communities I am surprised I ever did without. I have had the bizarre experience of getting a Friend Request from a person I knew who had just died. It, in short, changed my life.
But I get why people are starting to be done.
The privacy stuff is upsetting. Instead of opting in, now you have to opt out. Bummer. And you have to do it OVER and OVER. It is a drag. I have to keep locking down my profile. I had to start a separate profile for work because I couldn’t control what was going on there, enough. No problem. Now I have profile #2 on which I am friends with a bunch of work people and nuns. But I can’t quit. Not yet.
Seriously, how would I keep up with my cousins in California, Seattle, Pittsburgh, not to mention my friend all over the world? I feel like my world would dramatically shrink. I might have more privacy but it would not be worth it. So far. But I am waiting for the next thing.