No Facebook for 45 Days

By Paige Glenn

Facebook has been one of the most popular networking sites this year, as more and more people joined the Facebook world.  There were over 400 million users as of 2010, so you can hardly imagine how many people there are now.   But is Facebook all that it appears to be? You have all the statuses, the games, pictures, messaging back and forth, multiple friends, and the gossip. It can be good in some ways, but I've found, in most cases, that people use it the wrong way. 

Sometimes, Facebook can play a role in a marriage falling apart . The temptation of lying and cheating online exists and creates a lot of tension/fighting between spouses. Friendships and relationships start to disperse.  People feel a certain sense of security behind a computer screen and think they can say anything personal. 

Facebook is mostly an escape from real life; for people who do not want to work through the hard times and incarcerate themselves from their responsibilities. Boredom can play a big role if you have nothing else going on in your life or want to do anything else.

Facebookers (that's what I like to call them) draw so much attention to themselves because they want the feedback from other people and compliments that make themselves feel good about themselves. When they post about their bad day, they expect you to "boo who" with them and comfort them. News flash, Facebook is not a panacea for every problem. Those who have an account know what I am talking about. The list goes on and on of how terribly people act and react. It turns people to being delusional; thinking that if no one comments on their status or "likes" it than no one cares about them. It turns the sanity into insanity and turns the healthy into unhealthy. 

So the beginning of my study, I found that it is hard to stay away from Facebook for a couple days. You will most likely have the urge to reactivate your account, but after a week you should not feel dependent. Here's my personal take on going without Facebook for 45 days.

Pros of No Facebook:

•  Better grades:

I had a lot more time on my hands for studying and homework. With Facebook, studies came last. I have interviewed multiple people and they replied that Facebook is a distraction from getting what needs to be done, done.

• Less Drama:

The less you know, the better it seems. You are not wrapped up into the "cyber fights" and witnessing cyber bullying as much as before. You are not worried about what someone is going to say about another person or you. Staying out of the situation brings you relief.

•  Better exercise:

Without Facebook I was able to prioritize my time and fit in "exercise time" a little each day. I have lost four pounds within 2-3 weeks from exercising. (I don't mean just because you delete your Facebook, you are going to lose weight. I'm using it as an example of something to do).

• Getting outside more:

This is considering that some Facebookers sit in on the weekends "Facebooking" their life away and have no interest in trying something new in the outside world. (This does not apply to all Facebookers, just the ones who take it to the extreme). The world has a lot of great things to provide and I have actually found myself doing more things outside the house, such as walking, going to the park, and spending time with family.

• Spending time with family:

Now I know some families are not the greatest in the world, but there has to be some family member that you spend time with the most. Spending time with a father, sister, mother, brother, etc. can make the difference compared to blogging all day about something that you are not going to remember in a week.

•  Actually hanging out with friends!:

Many of your closest friends have their days of wanting to sit at home and chatting on the computer. In today's generation it has turned into a habit. I found myself realizing that many of the teens I hang out with do not use Facebook as much as I thought, which breaks the day by having something useful to do.

•  Developing a hobby:

I found myself developing a new hobby, such as reading, playing an instrument more, etc. I have been playing an instrument for a couple years, but I extended the amount of time I play to perfect myself and become a better musician. It was a useful strategy for me which kept me satisfied.

These may seem facile, but there are many more abundant differences in the results than you may think. There are more positive reasons for deleting your Facebook, but those are the main key points.  However, for as much as I am against Facebook, I did have some thoughts on its' positives.

Cons of No Facebook:

• Not talking to family as much:

Many of my family members live far away (and also because I do not get to see them frequently). I struggled to keep in contact with them.  I was only able to talk to them a couple times a week since we all have different schedules.

• Not invited to "parties" as much:

Instead of sending invitations by mail or text messaging/calling, many teens and adults create a page on Facebook, adding the people they want to invite to their "get together" or "party.” It sounds very secretive and sneaky to me. Depending on how close you are with the friend, he or she may forget to invite you and you miss out on a lot.

• Contacting friends:

In my generation, many teens are so wrapped up in technology (computers especially) that they forget to answer their phones when you plan on hanging out with them. (I am very guilty of this myself). So private messaging or "writing on their wall" comes into play and is better communication for them.

• Sharing pictures and knowing what's going on:

Now even though reading some statuses and knowing the wrong information is bad, there are some statuses and some pictures that you can share with friends rather than printing the photo or having your friend accidentally deleting it in their email. Many people can comment and they might have something positive and hilarious to say about it!

Facebook is a networking site that gives you a lot of freedom. Be aware that every idle word you say is monitored and not secure. Every status that gets deleted, every picture and comment is still owned by Facebook. Facebook keeps all of your information, and colleges are starting to look at your Facebook to see if you are eligible for their college. Colleges do look at it even if you use it the right way.  Many students have found it hard to get jobs and go to college because of one foolish status about drinking, usage of drugs, or even unintentionally hurting someone. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but when you look at it later on you’ll regret it a lot more, just like those kids who can’t even get a start in life because of what they put online.

Surviving Facebook is not as hard as it seems. Besides, it's only a website and it'll soon turn into one of those other social networking sites that plummets down the drain. Something else popular will emerge soon, whether you believe it or not. I am glad to say that I survived a 45 Day Facebook Challenge.

Tips for Smart Facebooking:

• Pictures - Pictures can be more deceiving than you think. Uploading pictures of parties that have the use of drugs, alcohol, etc. can give colleges and bosses the wrong impression when you go to apply for a job or enroll in classes. That red plastic cup you may have been holding may have fruit punch, but how can a picture prove that it was something else?

•  Statuses - This goes along with comments. Everything you say is MONITORED and can be held against you. No one needs to know every single word you have to say. Be careful what you say since it can offend other teens of a different race, sex, religion, etc., and can affect where you end up in your future. Your statuses can be seen by your peers, parents, teachers, and police officers. Don’t say anything that you would not say on a public stage!