This Is Not Good-Bye

Sometimes we need a break from seeing everything people post on Facebook. Social media

affects our mental health. Facebook can cause anxiety. Facebook can make us depressed. Instead of making us happy, sometimes Facebook makes us feel bad. For all the great things social media does to bring us together, it often brings us down.

Facebook reported having over 1.37 billion daily active users last year, making it by far the biggest online social network, but that should come as no big surprise. The most common motivations for using it are: relationship maintenance, passing time/relieving boredom, entertainment, and companionship. I would suppose in light of the unprecedented times in which we currently are in, people are turning to social networks even more.

In spite of these positive motives, there is accumulating research evidence that spending time on Facebook and other social network sites might lead to negative emotional consequences. The more people use Facebook, especially passively, the more they are likely to feel worse, more depressed, and less satisfied with their lives.

A recent study I read revealed that taking a break from Facebook for only five days can reduce your stress, as measured by cortisol levels. I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed, so I am thinking taking a break from Facebook for a while might be just what the doctor ordered.

There are multiple reasons to take a break from Facebook; to prove to yourself that you can, because you feel addicted to social media, because of the time you spend on it, or possibly due to the mental toll it takes.

We love Facebook. It’s a part of our lives and our routines. For sure, Facebook has become a habit. Trying to take a break from it, even a for a little while, can be a challenge, but I am going to give it a try. With BLM, COVID, and politics, I think it’s going to be a good mental break for me to get off social media.

I actually thought there was a word for giving up Facebook. Several times in my News Feed, I’ve seen Facebook friends declare they were taking a Facebreak. Because of seeing this so often, I thought Facebreak meant they were giving up Facebook for awhile. But they — and I –were wrong. According to the Urban Dictionary, taking a Facebreak is when you take a break from what you are doing so that you can go ON Facebook. Ha!

So, what’s the word for when you are actually trying to, or succeeding at, taking a break from Facebook?

I consulted the hip Urban Dictionary once again, hoping to a term for this. Searching there and other places online, there doesn’t seem to be a trendy word for this. Taking a break from Facebook seems to be the phrase that you are simply “taking a break from Facebook.”

This behavior must be so uncommon and unnatural, there isn’t a word for it yet.

I’ve seen many people do it, usually with an announcement of sorts, so as not to appear rude for not Liking and Commenting on friends’ posts. It’s polite and kind behavior. Recently, on Facebook, a close friend proclaimed she was taking a Facebook break and wished everyone a Happy Facebook Birthday in advance.

 

Another friend went into greater detail. She posted when she returned to Facebook, explaining her Facebook hiatus, and wished everyone she missed a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Get Well Soon, Congratulations, and Sorry for Your Loss. She wasn’t being crass or snarky. This friend truly felt badly about missing people’s milestones and not being (virtually) there for them to share in their good and bad news.

I wanted to let all my "Facebook Friends" know that I am signing off for a while because many of you send me crochet and craft ideas, etc., and I did not want any of you to think I blocked you if you tried to send me something or contact me via FB, and couldn't find me, or didn't hear from me. You can still reach out via Messenger, Instagram, text, or the old-fashioned way, by telephone.

I am hoping I find it very refreshing. While the siren song of Facebook looms, I am thinking of the things I will do with all of my free time! Who knows, I may find I like being less connected and more present in my own life. And when I log back on, I will see all of the things waiting for me. Monday night I will be logging off, but I will be back, this not good-bye but so long for now!