I’m not anti-Facebook by the way. I actually do use it to connect with friends, family members and also for my business groups.
What I have noticed though is the strong pull to come back to the site several times throughout the day. I’d post something and then check back half an hour later to see if anyone liked my post. The interval then went down and down until I was permanently on there.
I noticed others seemed compelled to update their status pretty much every other minute. Some were telling me about their cup of tea, who had just called them or who they loved. I am in no way judging but offering my reflections on how this can actually become a compulsion.
Facebook is neutral and a force to be used for fun or otherwise. It is when something become an obsession that you have to take a step back and ask yourself why you are doing it. We all have within us, an inbuilt desire for significance and social media is a massive outlet for this desire.
I see people on holidays with their families posting over ten times per day. As Eckhart Tolle would say, be in the moment. If you with your family the be with them. When you get home then post a few pictures so we can see what you enjoyed and welcome you back. See if you can survive just one day without Tweeting or Facebooking. If you can’t then ask yourself why.
Right, I’m off to tell everyone on Twitter about this article.
Paul Browning