I Went Back To Facebook After a 3 Year Hiatus: Here Are My Thoughts
Back in November I was tapped to work with a new brand to help promote diabetes awareness. I was excited about this partnership until they informed me I needed a Facebook Business Account. When I tell you I wanted to have a dramatic temper tantrum (a good one like the 2 year olds have)!
I closed my previous Facebook account right before the pandemic went into full swing. I had grown tired of the negativity- especially the videos of Black people being killed, flooding my timeline. I was “friends” with people that I didn’t know in real life, but who felt that they knew me because of our social media connection. This had made going out in public very uncomfortable at times, as people would often point and stare - or run up on me like I stole something, demanding I give them my attention.
A person who mainly uses social media for marketing, I also wasn’t getting any business from my Facebook connections. I had stopped seeing the point of being on the platform, so one day I woke up and deactivated my account.
Since returning to FB, I am surprised to see that not much has changed, except the waistlines of a lot of my associates. I remember people being smaller before the pandemic, but I guess I’m not the only one who eats when they are stressed - I just exercise to keep the weight off and my diabetes in check.
I also noticed that people aren’t into reels like they are over on Instagram and using music appears to be an issue. The Facebook crowd prefers pictures, short think pieces about sports, and these crazy games that somehow predicts their future. A lot of my associates (I only have 100 friends and 1/2 are relatives) also love to repost the content of bigger accounts, but that’s about it. Yep, in my book they are pretty boring, or as my friend Emily would say, “Nothing to see here!”
What I do love about Facebook is MARKETPLACE! This is where I need Jesus to take the wheel and drive really, really, fast, lol. I spend more time searching for deals on marketplace than I do interacting with people. For me it’s like virtual thrift shopping (I show a lot of the clothing items I find in thrift stores over on Instagram). Like I log into Facebook and immediately click the marketplace tab to see what new items have been listed. So far I’ve purchased a giraffe print chair to match my sofa, two floor lamps, and a pair of Pier One wicker bar stools. My son, Jorden has informed me that I can not bringing any more stuff home and to stop going to these strange people’s houses (yet technology allows him to track my every move).
Honestly, Facebook Marketplace has brought me joy during these past few months. I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and learning why they were selling x,y, and z. I’ve met a minister who expressed interest in having me speak to the women group at her church about work trauma, a dad who’s son dropped out of med school because it was too expensive, and a couple who realized their retirement condo didn’t have enough space for their visiting grandkids. I realized that it isn’t always about finding a good deal, although I do love a good deal, but also meeting some phenomenal people in real life, too!
What I’m not liking is all of these strangers sending me friend requests - like “Dude, who are you?!” Yes, we may know the same people, but I don’t know Y-O-U! And I’ve decided to keep it that way. I don’t want any viral moments over there, and I plan to keep my friend group small, simply because I just want to thrift shop and keep up with my crazy family members and childhood associates. On Facebook I just want to be Carey Jean, not Dr. Carey, Dr. Yazeed or even Professor Yazeed. I don’t want to be a best selling author, nor an activist. I want to be the around the way girl that they all know and love, while we reminisce about the good ole days. And oh yeah…I find some good deals along the way!
What has your experience been with Facebook? Comment below and share your thoughts.
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It is going on almost 3 years for me since being on Facebook. I don’t miss it AT ALL. Well, let me back up… I am missing milestones…birthdays.. anniversaries etc. but that is it.
I was so tired of some people bashing one another and saying things that they were not courageous enough to say to that person‘s face and then whoever was on your feed the whole group read what you had to say.
I just got tired of it and the other thing people were just on the page to see what you were doing not that they like you they just wanted to be nosy to see what you were doing.
It’s funny I’m not on Facebook and I know just as much that’s happening because people pick up the phone and call and say girl “did you read what so-and-so put on Facebook today”. I do not miss it at all and not sure if I’ll ever get back on it.
My perspective on social media platforms is this - they aren't there for you, they are there to collect data ABOUT you that they can then profit from. So use them for your own purposes knowing that that is their reason for existing. I am not a fan of building a digital twin online, so I use three platform - YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn - each for very specific purposes and with very different connections because of that. I created my YouTube channel as a platform for my fitness and athletic conditioning work - some of that dates back to 2003 before YouTube even existed. Facebook is for my family and close friends and I always keep that circle tight. LinkedIn is for my professional work in tech. My personal LinkedIn is both my resume and my portfolio, and my business page is specifically for my consulting work. Boundaries around social media platforms are important, otherwise they will get away from you and take over your life.