Y'all know, I love the good parts of Facebook. I am in touch with old friends (just minutes ago I video messaged with a dear friend I had not seen in years). I have made new genuine friends, a few of whom I’ve not even met in person. I can keep those who care to know, updated on my life. These are very good things indeed.
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| Cayman Islands Bonefishing in the mid 1990's just because I came across the photos. They were back before social media. |
I have talked about how much these connections, these relationships, mean to me. The huge problem is that Facebook is a massive corporation that functions only for growth and profit. When you “think” you are sharing your life with your loved ones, FB is only showing who and what its algorithms dictate.
Here are a few simple things that in my opinion (important to remember that these are just my opinions) can make your Facebook experience better.
1. For Friends that you actually want to follow, go to the “Friends” tab on your FB page and click “get notifications.” Then when they post something, you should receive a notification. Easy-peasy.
2. Do not over-post. Some people post (or share) a dozen or more things in a day and their posts get lost and not seen. You might not want to do the “get notifications” thing with people who over-post even if you love them. I only post once a day and usually not even that often. I put a lot of thought into what I post and write.
3. Occasionally (at least once a week?) GO to your close friend’s FB page to look through their timelines. Even having clicked on “get notifications” I find stuff posted that I never received notifications regarding.
4. Remember, scrolling down your newsfeed can be fun, but it is only showing you what the algorithms choose to show you. It is based on nothing that you or I will ever understand. Want to see a post explode with attention? Make a comment on some old photo of yours and watch it flood the newsfeeds of your friends. Suddenly scores of people will be ‘reacting to’ or commenting on something from years ago. And conversely, if you want to see a post “die” in the newsfeeds, post a link to a video! Basically, if it leads away from FB, it is buried by FB.
5. Unfriend, Unfollow and Block. I block rightwing nutjobs (in today’s world, I do not want them in my world). I block: science deniers, racists, bigots, misogynists, homophobes, transphobes, any of Tiny’s supporters, and any other intentional idiots.
6. Which brings me to: Your Facebook, your rules. You decide who to block, or unfriend, or unfollow. You do not have to see the offensive comments of ignorant people. Block them. Then even if they do comment in someone else’s post, you won’t have to feel that disgust in the pit of your stomach.
So those are 6 of my thoughts on how I use Facebook. I will be there. BUT I am also beginning to cross-post all my posts to my blog site. I will not necessarily post links to them on FB (unless it is specifically a birding post). I just need to spread out. Those who want to read what I write please follow this blog. I reckon it will be interesting
I am also on Instagram and on Twitter although I am not good at using either of them yet. Here is another photo of me in the islands. A Cuban cigar is heaven. I will smoke again.
I write therefore I am. I share therefore it’s real. I love y’all, follow along. I am writing!
Sending love as I do.
Here are a few simple things that in my opinion (important to remember that these are just my opinions) can make your Facebook experience better.
1. For Friends that you actually want to follow, go to the “Friends” tab on your FB page and click “get notifications.” Then when they post something, you should receive a notification. Easy-peasy.
2. Do not over-post. Some people post (or share) a dozen or more things in a day and their posts get lost and not seen. You might not want to do the “get notifications” thing with people who over-post even if you love them. I only post once a day and usually not even that often. I put a lot of thought into what I post and write.
3. Occasionally (at least once a week?) GO to your close friend’s FB page to look through their timelines. Even having clicked on “get notifications” I find stuff posted that I never received notifications regarding.
4. Remember, scrolling down your newsfeed can be fun, but it is only showing you what the algorithms choose to show you. It is based on nothing that you or I will ever understand. Want to see a post explode with attention? Make a comment on some old photo of yours and watch it flood the newsfeeds of your friends. Suddenly scores of people will be ‘reacting to’ or commenting on something from years ago. And conversely, if you want to see a post “die” in the newsfeeds, post a link to a video! Basically, if it leads away from FB, it is buried by FB.
5. Unfriend, Unfollow and Block. I block rightwing nutjobs (in today’s world, I do not want them in my world). I block: science deniers, racists, bigots, misogynists, homophobes, transphobes, any of Tiny’s supporters, and any other intentional idiots.
6. Which brings me to: Your Facebook, your rules. You decide who to block, or unfriend, or unfollow. You do not have to see the offensive comments of ignorant people. Block them. Then even if they do comment in someone else’s post, you won’t have to feel that disgust in the pit of your stomach.
So those are 6 of my thoughts on how I use Facebook. I will be there. BUT I am also beginning to cross-post all my posts to my blog site. I will not necessarily post links to them on FB (unless it is specifically a birding post). I just need to spread out. Those who want to read what I write please follow this blog. I reckon it will be interesting
I am also on Instagram and on Twitter although I am not good at using either of them yet. Here is another photo of me in the islands. A Cuban cigar is heaven. I will smoke again.
I write therefore I am. I share therefore it’s real. I love y’all, follow along. I am writing!
Sending love as I do.
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