I just received a very kind note from a friend who I contacted on Facebook Messenger. Following up on yesterday’s post, it energized me on pushing forward with this project, but it also cemented my decision to stop trying to use the Facebook timeline for conversations.
Earlier in the week, I had posted an item on the public timeline, tagging several people hoping to start a conversation, but got minimal response. It was a relatively benign subject about some changes on the AIA code of ethics, but I think the overwhelmingly public nature of social media makes difficult for people to have a conversation, aside from yelling about politics.
Furthermore, the timeline is too perfectly engineered for passive consumption. Like an ipad, the timeline is great for viewing but not conducive for producing – hell FB even pre-manufactures posts for you. Over the past year, I’ve taken several abortive attempts to deactivate my timeline because the addiction was just too much, but I keep coming back. I’d like to find a balance for using this product since I enjoy seeing news and links from old friends, but if the opportunity cost is fewer true conversations, maybe I’ll have to quit cold turkey.
So yes, another post adding to the chorus of social media self haters. Stealing from an insight by Bomani Jones, we all have a Facebook account but who actually loves the service?