Off the social network

A few months ago, I closed my Facebook account. This happened to fall not too far from the beginning of Lent, and so became related to a Lenten practice of intentional relationships (an experiment that failed utterly, but I'll blog on that later).

I know other people who have left Facebook--some repeatedly--and I usually hear it described as a sort of "breaking free." Like Facebook was a drug, an addiction, and quitting was a wrenching but necessary experience. That's how the story tends to be told, anyway.

For me, leaving Facebook was more like letting an unused gym membership expire. I occasionally posted, seldom read, and never responded to messages. Any question I was asked that began with "Did you see so-and-so's post on Facbeook..." could always be answered in the negative. So closing the account wasn't an accomplishment at all (though I did accept some accolades).

I have said fairly consistently that I think I will eventually re-open my Facebook account, once I figure out how I intend to use it. But in the interim, here are some observations I have made about life off the social network: