Over a year ago, my husband quit Facebook. Liberating is the word he used to describe it - and he almost never checked it. He wasn't obsessed like the rest of us. Ever since then, he's been on me to quit, too. I didn't think I actually would - how else would I keep up with my friends' pictures?
Then last year I gave up Facebook for Lent. It was wonderful. Freeing. But of course I still hopped back on as soon as Easter came around. But I decided to limit what I actually posted on there myself, and by last fall I had almost completely quit putting anything on there.
And yet, I still kept checking it.
I blocked updates one by one until I only saw those from people I like and agree with 100%. And yet I was still often depressed after seeing (and often following) links to sad or upsetting articles.
Last night I was talking to my husband and mentioned how I was again dismayed by a post I had seen. And he said, "That's it! I'm going downstairs and changing your password right now."
And you know what? I was relieved.
He didn't actually change it, I discovered during naptime today. And tonight, what was sitting in the top of my inbox? The REAL Reason to Quit Facebook - and 10 What-Ifs.
Go read it. I'll wait.
I'm taking it as a sign. It is time, and it is something I have to do myself. I'm giving myself the weekend, and then on Monday I am officially canceling my Facebook account.
It's amazing how much freer I already feel. If I ever want to be counter-cultural, here's how I have to start - by selectively unplugging.
Would you ever do it?