Apparently, my brain has something that just repels Facebook. I have tried a personal page, and a Facebook Page. Neither one is interesting to me, nor does it generate any interaction, at least not the type I enjoy. I spent more time filtering out political, religious, and “Please forward this” to attempt to prevent sensory overload.
I’ve never been one to chase statistics, number of people, or post counts. Interaction between people in a community is what drives me. For thirteen years I have run a general discussion forum. We are approaching 740,000 posts. Although not many members have met one another personally, they still share and enjoy interaction. We have on average 30-40 members per day visit. Facebook? So different. I have about 3-4 people that actually interact with posts. They are from the forum. They are always appreciated.
Minion memes, or semi-crude graphics
In the last couple of months, I have dropped back to sharing memes and graphics, just to see what type is liked. Apparently you gather large numbers of likes with Minion memes, or semi-crude graphics. “Likes” simply mean they saw it, and clicked they liked it, perhaps copying it to share with someone else. Or they may actually click the “share” button.
It’s truly addictive, and I have resisted that addiction
Maybe the stats aren’t that bad, but the interaction is nearly non-existent. I have tried posts with questions, and other things to garner responses, but sadly Facebook seems to be more of a self-gratification type of atmosphere. Everyone posts pictures to see how many “likes” they get. It’s truly addictive, and I have resisted that addiction. Perhaps that is what keeps me from having more interaction. I’m not into impressing myself, but want to give others a chance to interact.
The stats look okay, but nearly null on comments or posts, when you browse the page. Plenty of likes and shares. I’m not sad or bummed. I have always been a klutz on Facebook. It’s just not my “thing”. Many people, use it to share with family and actually converse, which is what it was meant for. Anyhow, I think I will step back from it. Maybe leave it active as an avenue for long-lost friends or old police buddies to contact me if needed. I can alert forum members to any problems should the forum go offline due to technical problems. Which is what the page was originally meant for.
How to you view Facebook. Know anyone that appears addicted? Do you use it much? I would love to hear your thoughts. Horror stories?
Comments always welcome,
I have no time for FB, but do use it to promote my books. I find it in general a rather juvenile communication tool, which has a history of problems … but as long as it makes money I don’t suppose it will go away! As an aside, I don’t find Twitter and Instagram much different. Must be my age!!!! 🙂
I think your assessment of it, is spot on, Colin. From what I gleaned from it most of the time, was just drama, and conflict. No doubt it’s making money. It may be my age as well, I’m less tolerant of stupid.
Thanks for the comment, Colin.
🙂
I have never had a Facebook account, and never will. For every good thing you hear about it, there are 10 bad things. My wife is so addicted to it, and the various Facebook Groups she belongs to, that her phone is NEVER out of her hand, including at the dinner table. (Except at her part-time job, where phones are not allowed)
I think of it as the ‘Heroin’ of social media. Once hooked,you are always an addict, even when you think you are not.
Best wishes, Pete.
Michelle was pretty much stuck to it for about a year. Then I finally convinced her, that half of the things you read on there, are hoaxes, or politically slanted. I’m still amazed it has lasted this long.
I’ve tried to “like” FB several times to no avail. 🙂
I guess, that is where I am currently at. I just can’t get totally on board with something, that has no real return to it.
I use FB to keep in touch with relatives I don’t see much. I’ve blocked a lot of “friends” that I originally accepted because I want it to be my happy place. It’s limited but I still get to see inside my relatives lives so I’ll stay on it.
I realized early on, the only way to keep ones sanity and happy place, was to block all the tons of invites to games etc. Then there was hardly anything worth looking at. If family needed me, they can get in touch via messenger/text. Your use is what it was intended for, so at least you get use out of it. 🙂
Thanks for the great comment, Kate.
I have personal FB used to connect with friends and family. No business page I ever put up garnered much interaction. I see success with people scheduling events or classes and selling inexpensive products.I was a social media manager for several professional businesses and all we ever hoped to gain by having FB accounts was more ranking from Google and even that was questionable. Filtering through the political muck and mire takes a lot of energy I do not have.
I agree, Maggie. It takes too much of my time to keep up with the deluge of posts.
Like your organization, I had thought it might drive more traffic and rankings to my other site, but that never was the case.
Thanks for the nice comment.
Good original content has always been the best driver of traffic, Ron. Just keep on keepin’ on.
I enjoy Facebook. It’s the place where I keep up with family members, casual friends, classmates, former neighbors, and former co-workers. I flip through things once a day, enjoying photos and personal comments. I blocked one person because she began to post offensive political comments, but all others have been a joy. For me, Facebook is a pleasant diversion and not an obsession.
Hi Anne. I only check mine maybe once or twice a day. Nothing ever interesting.
That is sad, Ron, that there is nothing interesting. At least you have interesting things to read on WordPress.
You bet!!
Look, Ron, not every platform or app appeals to everyone, right? So if FB doesn’t do it for you, move along and/or stick with places and people that do. Look, it all depends – FB is a cross-section of people just like the USA is or anywhere else. For me, it’s interesting, as I have a wide swath of people as ‘friends’ from all the proverbial walks of life, and in various countries (US, Australia, UK), with whom I interact. Here’s a very meaningful and interesting post I came across today, from a good FB friend of mine who lives in Ontario. It’s well worth reading. I’ll copy it here (hope it’s ok!):
My friend Dyana wrote:
The following was written by my beloved cousin Karen Farrugia Cohen. Karen resides in Melbourne Australia. They have had to return to complete lockdown for the 2nd time and experience its heightened emotions and hostilities in that country. Karen gives an insightful perspective of this situation. On this side of the ocean; in Canada, we are on stage three of reopening. Our government, has done a stellar job of keeping us safe, despite coming under constant attack and criticism throughout this whole crisis. Yet, we must not become complacent as we could be plunged into the same course as Australia if we don’t ALL toe the line. Sadly, we are sitting above the largest hotbed of Covid with only a mere border keeping us separated. An unstable leader and Americans who want to penetrate our border for their own selfish reasons, pose a constant threat to our safety. Indeed these are trying times but read Karen’s take on it… There have been far worse trying times in out not so distant past.
Karen Farrugia Cohen Aug 4, 2020 writes:
I just wanted to share a snippet of my thoughts with my Facebook family .. I see, hear and feel the anxiety in the air… So many people panicking, so many people worried about being arrested and being fined for doing the wrong thing, so many people worried about the new “rules”…. About masks!!!.. So many people outraged by the government’s decisions .. so much depression, negativity, so much angst and uncertainty….
So… My 2 cents are as follows …
My grandmother was a twin… She and her twin back in the early 40s found themselves ripped away forcefully from their beloved family in one country… And landed in another country not by choice in the grueling hell of the world famous concentration camp Auschwitz… Forced to work for over 18 hours a day with no breaks… Ripped from their family and friends…. Starved almost to death… No choices, no comforts… No medicine… No joy… No warm bed… No communication… No hot showers… No privacy… So much fear… Pain… Suffering… starvation… and a lifetime of nightmares and secrets…which I’m sure were taken with her to her grave a couple of years ago…. When I find myself getting down about our Victorian lockdown stage 4, I think about my beloved Safta and what nightmare she had to live through whilst her relatives and friends and neighbors were murdered before her eyes….
I’m home… I’m a warm bed, with a loving family… Heaps of every food I desire and full supplies, clothing of my choice… free TV and catch up TV…. Netflix, computers, webcams, internet, ps4… a car, online shopping if I can’t be bothered to leave the house .. Uno.. Lego… Painting, drawing, working, cooking, bike riding, dishwashers, mobile phones and sooooo much more… I get to spend the days with my family… My daughter and I ride our bikes and giggle… Compete in PS4 games… We cook together… We snuggle morning and night… My goodness, she studies from home and I mostly work from home… we sit next to each other most of the day… What the hell do I have to complain about? I’m grateful!!! I’m safe… I’m healthy.. I’m loved.. I’m free to do what I want with my time… And I can eat whatever tickles my fancy … What is not to be happy and grateful for? Seriously….. Am I wrong???
No Karen, (I responded) you sure are not wrong!! Many (most?!) of us share your feelings of gratitude!
Love, your appreciative Facebook readers
So that’s how FB can be, sometimes.
That, is the way it should be. I always welcome comments, articles, reposts, anything that helps get a persons point across.
You’re right, after she endured a concentration camp, and one of the worst, not much could bring her down. Sometimes we (I) can take what things we have for granted. Facebook is free, it serves a vital purpose for many.
It just doesn’t seem to work for me. It could be me, or it could be the ones I follow. Either way, I’ll call a truce between it and myself.
Thank you so very much, for a really engaging comment. I appreciate you sharing that with me, and it helps adjust my perspective.
You’re a gem, Ellie.
You too, Ron.
Ron, I joined FB to interact with relatives and friends I have all over the world but do not get to see. I was hoping to see lots of photos and updates on peoples’ comings and goings. However, it has turned into something very different where people post their religious beliefs, political beliefs, copies of stuff that is “fake” news, etc. I have been thinking of leaving FB but then I would lose the good with the bad.
I agree, Adele. Sometimes it’s like “Throwing the baby, out with the bathwater”. There are good and bad things about any service I suppose.
Thanks for the comment.
Must admit, I’ve never monitored FB activity. I use it to find out what my kids are up to.
At least it serves a purpose for you, Cathy. I think our kids migrated to Twitter and Whatsapp etc. We sometimes see a shared item from them. If they need us, they contact through the facebook messenger, or text. I don’t think the Millennials remember how to use the voice part of the phone. 🙂
I don’t use Facebook. I did recently find that there is a neighborhood Facebook page which is moderated and screened before letting one read or post it. That has been quite helpful for information about local crimes, recommendations for services (had our lawnmower ixed by a neighbor, for instance) and is pretty free of grumpiness. Otherwise, no. When my daughter was using it for her business, I learned that you can purchase “likes” on any platform. So even that data isn’t very helpful. I did take a peek at your discussion board. I used to use the a lot in the early days of genealogy and enjoyed them.
Yes, long ago when I found out you could “buy” likes it smacked of total nonsense. That is one reason I finally tried a page, Control over the content. I can’t seem to grasp Twitter, let alone get proficient on Facebook.