I Like Facebook — So Shoot Me

I shuddered a lot last week. Each time I saw someone on social or conventional media suggest we “shut down” our Facebook accounts or just “delete the app,” a chill went up my arms.

No. Just no.

I realize it’s what all the cool kids were saying when Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp were down for the better part of a workday recently. Especially crazy because it was right after a whistleblower had had her say on 60 Minutes about the damage the apps are doing, such as perpetuating untruths that threaten our democracy.

I’ll come out of the gate with this — I’m appalled at what the whistleblower revealed and we need accountability in this realm. Full stop.

However, I’m going to posit that most of the people who can easily delete the Facebook app from their lives aren’t using it in any real way. I’m highly respectful of those who decide it’s not for them, but I am so over some of these same people slamming an app they don’t fully utilize or understand.

Social media requires attention, cultivation, dialogue. Again, I get it if this isn’t your jam, but then please step off from telling the rest of us to get rid of it like it’s as easy as taking out the trash.

I just got a new writing opportunity. It was 100 percent because I am in a Facebook community of freelancers.