My name is Dineen Boyle and I have been Facebook-free for 37 days.
Last month, I wrote about my plan to deactivate my Facebook profile.
Since then, I have realized many things about my relationship with the site, the most surprising of which is that I don’t miss it.
Admittedly, the first two weeks were somewhat difficult. I experienced some withdrawal-like symptoms and found myself curious about what I was missing in the social networking universe. The days I spent housebound, recovering from wisdom tooth surgery over Spring Break proved to be the ultimate test. With laptop and smartphone within constant reach, the temptation to log on was intense. It was like dangling bait in front of a shark, or placing drugs in front of an addict, or putting cookies in front of someone who really likes cookies.
During my absence from the site, I have noticed a marked increase in activities such as doing productive things. Initially, I turned to other ways to waste an average of about 15-20 minutes a day online. My efforts focused mainly on online shopping. These ventures proved mostly unsuccessful. However, I did manage to discover a 50 percent off Groupon for a Segway Tour of Boston (Laminated Certified Segway Driver’s License included).
Although my procrastination has decreased, I occasionally relapse. I find myself watching YouTube videos of “A monkey and a puppy playing” or “Drunk guy attempting to put on flip flops.” But I catch myself and I say, “No, Dineen. No.” I recognize that the existence of such things in my computer history undermines the academic and social credibility for which I strive.
Overall, I have received mixed reaction from others in regards to my Facebook deactivation. Some have told me that they “admire” my self-discipline and say that they would never be able to kick the habit. Others have mentioned that they are inspired and hope to take a break from the site. Still, there are those who respond, “You don’t have a Facebook?” a glaze of disbelief coating their eyes, behind which their mind calculates a 3 percent possibility that a college student without a Facebook profile could still be a functioning member of society. I see the fear begin to register on their faces after concluding that I must undoubtedly be a freak social deviant.
And upon informing my mother of my intentions to defect from the site, she posed the profound question, “But how are you going to know things?”
Although I make attempts at humor, I have learned a great deal in my efforts to limit my wasteful online activity. What began as a social experiment has proven to be thoroughly liberating. I recognize that 15 minutes spent here and there procrastinating on Facebook accumulates quickly and is time that could be devoted toward accomplishing productive and meaningful things such as volunteering or better educating myself about world affairs.
Yet, as I mentioned in my previous column on this topic, I do not intend to vilify Facebook. It allows us an efficient centralized means of communication and becomes detrimental to our time management only when we allow it.
Through my time away from the site, I have been allowed an extrospective view of the extent to which Facebook is ingrained within the lives of our generation. My conclusion: we are incredibly dependent on it.
Consequently, there are some drawbacks that accompany deactivation. It is remarkable how Facebook has come to monopolize the planning of our social lives and I find myself reliant on friends for information about events. It also takes a little bit more effort to stay in touch with those who live far away.
Yet despite these minor setbacks, the positives that have accompanied my experience far outweigh the negatives. I care much less about trivial things with which I once found myself concerned. I have also spent more time engaging in actual telephone, and in person conversations with my friends. Instead of viewing snapshots of parties or travels, I get to hear their actual voices update me on their lives.
The good news is that if you are considering leaving Facebook, rest assured knowing that it will not equate to the demise of your social life.
The bad news is that if you look super awesome in any pictures, you’re going to have to rely on your friends to email them to you.
As for my experience, I feel oddly empowered … And wicked pumped about my Segway tour.