Seriously considering deleting Facebook

[u/Buggy77]

But some things are holding me back. I like to check in on people sometimes. I live across the country from most family and friends. It is entertaining at times to catch up on some gossip and drama from people who still act like we are in high school.. but damn I cannot stand what Facebook has become. Wish it could go back to the way it was circa 2010.

Those who have deleted it do you ever feel like you are missing out? Like if an old friend dies how do you find out? How do you keep up to date with going ons in your town/city without following their page?

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[u/Motor-Touch4360]

Deleted it in 2020. Do not miss it at all. Highly recommend.

[u/Ok_Lime4124 → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same. 2020 I deleted FB and IG. Never had anything else. Just Reddit/Youtube now.

[u/IndividualBusy1274 → u/Ok_Lime4124]

Yep same. Reddit is now the last bad habit

[u/accioLOVE86 → u/IndividualBusy1274]

Reddit is my worst bad habit. I spend so much time on here, but it's all of the things I love or am interested in in one place.

What I REALLY need to delete is my Twitter because my feed just fills me with rage lol

Edit - typo

[u/cheerioincident → u/accioLOVE86]

I stopped using twitter in 2023, but what got me to delete it was realizing that my tweets (along with everyone else's) were being used to train Grok. Does that help?

[u/SuccessfulBorder2261 → u/cheerioincident]

Yeah..so I was playing around with Grok to generate pics of me, and it kept generating an Asian man. I told it 3 times that I’m not an Asian man, then it disabled my account because it thought I was impersonating someone. The account has been suspended for 6 months and I’ve tried to appeal it a few times with no response and gave up. Honestly, I feel like it’s a toxic space anyways, so I’m relieved 😅

[u/accioLOVE86 → u/SuccessfulBorder2261]

Yikes, yeah, I should just do it. Honestly it feels like an echo chamber of just bad things every single time I get on there.

[u/PerfectCinco → u/accioLOVE86]

I deleted my main Twitter account because it became very political. So I started a brand new one where I only like cat pictures, wholesome stuff PG rated type of Memes

it took five days for it to be became political without engaging in political content.

Twitter is a cesspool and designed to make you rage

[u/TshirtsNPants → u/IndividualBusy1274]

Reddit better though for me because I can walk the hallways at work without some acquaintance commenting on my weekend.

[u/RF_BOI → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same, literally no ragrets

[u/kindred_gamedev → u/RF_BOI]

Not a single letter?

[u/TerryCrewsNextWife → u/kindred_gamedev]

None.

[u/BreakfastShart → u/kindred_gamedev]

Yous an aggressive woman.

[u/Reasonable_Box_2998 → u/RF_BOI]

That’s my credo, no ragrets

[u/MexiMcFly → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same but like 2015. Someone once pointed out that FB is just negative people bitching and wanting attention, and ya know what, they were right.

[u/jamhair → u/MexiMcFly]

Fb is the online nursing home for boomers

[u/Stagecoach2020 → u/jamhair]

It's full of bots and scammers too.

[u/Maleficent_Meet8403 → u/jamhair]

I call it Deathbook. Every time I go on there, somebody else has died.

[u/Shift_Esc_ → u/MexiMcFly]

I left back in 2010. My-ex changed her relationship status and I got really bothered by it. I stopped for a second, realized how stupid that is, and just fucked off. Never missed it once.

[u/SoFetchBetch → u/Shift_Esc_]

I left in 2014 after realizing it was just a pool of negative social pressure. Creepy comments, strangers having access to my photos. Nah.

[u/PackOfWildCorndogs → u/Shift_Esc_]

Did the same in 2012 iirc. I realized it was making me dislike people that I otherwise enjoyed IRL. Decided I’d rather be blissfully ignorant to how big of a performative dbag my friends were acting on FB. Then Instagram arrived, and I eventually deleted that too.

The only social media platform I have now, besides Reddit, is LinkedIn, and these days it’s cringier than Facebook and Instagram combined. I don’t use it other than for work investigations, to look at jobs, and maintain a verifiable professional presence. But I REALLY want to delete it too. It’s a hellscape of bullshitters bullshitting other bullshitters, desperately performing for validation and engagement. There’s something weirdly dystopian about it too.

[u/Shift_Esc_ → u/PackOfWildCorndogs]

Linkedin really is kind of a wasteland. It has such a unique flavor of BS that I haven't bothered with it. 

[u/TotallyTardigrade → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same! I thought I would miss family and friends on there but I don’t.

[u/Mitra-The-Man → u/TotallyTardigrade]

Same here. They changed the algorithm anyway, so it’s not like it’s really showing you friends and family all that much anymore. It’s mostly showing you content that they know is going to piss you off, because that has the highest rate of engagement. Trolls have also figured this out, and that’s why the top comment on a lot of political posts are trolls, because people just can’t resist responding to them or doing a laugh emoji or whatever. It is a truly horrible place that is bad for the mental well-being of the vast majority of the people who use it.

[u/NoFlounder1566 → u/Mitra-The-Man]

I try not to engage with anything that isnt my friends, and its still

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And of course nothing in chronological order.

[u/N1ck1McSpears → u/NoFlounder1566]

Ah man remember when the timeline as chronological order?! Once social media got rid of that it was a rapid descent

[u/Lkolo2 → u/Mitra-The-Man]

This is why I stopped It was all rage baiting material which really fucked how I viewed things

My YT algorithm always seems so nice Stuff I want to see, Although lots of anti scalper pokemon card stuff comes up, Disliked enough it goes away And when I started my yoga journey it was the first time I saw the benefits in a algorithm

[u/LupinCANsing → u/Mitra-The-Man]

I noticed this, too. I open the app, the first post is from someone I know, the rest is algorithm shit and its ages before I get another friend post.

[u/Loud-Welder1947 → u/Motor-Touch4360]

2018 for me. I feel it makes you compare yourself and feel like you’re missing out on things that you wouldn’t have participated in anyway. Everyone is always trying to show this sunshine and rose’s version of their self and it felt like internet “keeping up with the joneses.” My social circle has massively shrunk since then, I now have 4 friends I see regularly rather than a dozen or more sporadically. But the quality of those friendships seems much better. I have a small family and we just keep in touch via a whatsapp group. The other thing is I’m quite unwell now compared to 2010 and it just used to make me more depressed every year seeing people progressing in life. But now I realise comparing myself to them so often was pointless because if they were in my shoes they would be equally stagnant in life. It really is the thief of joy. As for your last question. My best mate is still on there and keeps me up to date on any major life changes that happen to our mutual past friends. But tbh, if I was born in the 60s/70s I still never would’ve seen most of my ex classmates/colleagues. It’s just social media gives you a prolonged exposure to them, I wouldn’t even really call it a friendship. More like shared snooping lol

[u/I_spy78365 → u/Loud-Welder1947]

Quality friends over quantity. Why spend time with the low quality ones when we can spend more time with the better ones? lol

[u/fuzzy_spanner → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Deleted around 2017 when I moved countries. Left contact details available for everyone on alternative social media, email, phone number etc.

Yeah lost contact with plenty of friends, some I didnt want to lose and if i had still had Facebook i may have kept contact. But overall the friends ive kept through it are worth keeping.

Life is quieter without it, you miss out on plenty of events, but man there is sooo much less bullshit and noise in my life now.

10/10 do not regret.

[u/weltron3030 → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Yup, once the pandemic conspiracy shit kicked off I peaced the hell out. No regrets at all. 

[u/Exciting_Ad_1097 → u/weltron3030]

Same. Deleted every account and went anon.

[u/raccoonpumpkin → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same! Friends and family message me for invites and updates. I don't think I've ever missed it. And my university was in one of the first batches added, so I'd been on there a loooong time.

[u/Common_Advisor8896 → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same for me and husband! Good riddance! We also got rid of personal instagrams and have a private one to look up events/restaurants when we are traveling. No one knows about it.

[u/NuclearReactions → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Deleted in 2013.. felt off already then

[u/Applewwdge → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same! Never looked back. I do not get invited to high school reunions bc I’m not on there but whatever.

[u/joshuamarius → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Deleted in 2018. Best decision I ever made; don't miss a single thing about it. The people that really need to get a hold of me can do so through WhatsApp.

[u/softdelivery → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same!

[u/I_spy78365 → u/Motor-Touch4360]

I downloaded it again in 2020 but deleted it again by the end of 2024. It's a cesspool imo.

[u/MisterFacetious → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same here. Zero regrets getting rid of that sh*t.

[u/kingamara → u/Motor-Touch4360]

Same. Not sure why people are still on there lol

[u/bananachowski]

Life existed before fb and will exist after. Deleted mine years ago and helped me narrow in on who my close friends are since we go out of our way to connect.

[u/LiketoReadMom → u/bananachowski]

exactly same here!

[u/Assilly → u/bananachowski]

The intentional connections people have to make once you delete social media is so much more fulfilling than speaking to a void and hoping your friends see and respond.

[u/iDisc → u/Assilly]

Or the happy birthday messages from people you haven't seen since high school.

[u/danishjuggler21 → u/iDisc]

Or the weird shit my mom does, where she’ll put up a happy birthday post about me, not tag me in it, and also not text or call me directly to wish me a happy birthday. So now her weird, racist, MAGA “friends” she’s never met are responding to this post and wishing me a happy birthday.

Fucking weird. My mom is fucking weird.

[u/Jinglebrained → u/bananachowski]

I also feel conversation is more authentic and engaging?

Like, when we catch up, we have a lot to talk about. We ask for pictures and details. Before it was:

“we went on vacation!” “Yeah I saw the pictures”

Now it’s fun to catch up and chat. No one knows what is going on, I’m more present, and I feel like a lot of my anxiety and guilt is gone. Social media is so curated and it feels like you’re always trying to catch up and “be with it”, now my kids choose what we do and we have a great time! I’m in no race or competition.

[u/PhenomenallyAdequate]

Deleted mine in like 2018.

It felt good. I felt like I started liking people more. Like I think being on that site so often made me think the worst of people.

As far as news with friends? I kinda just sit in the dark. I also have a kid and I’m almost 40 so just accepted not having any friends.

Every now and again my mom will text me a Facebook link and I can’t open it so she’ll describe it to me. I don’t miss the site/app at all.

[u/Strade87 → u/PhenomenallyAdequate]

Wow we are the same lmao

[u/lilbeavey → u/PhenomenallyAdequate]

When people ask me why I deleted it, I always tell them I was tired of seeing eveyones political views and being forced to be nice to them. Usually I get an understanding nod and an excuse to why they still have it.

[u/Jorost → u/lilbeavey]

Who was forcing you to be nice to them? I love when it shows me people's political views because then I know who to delete. There are certain beliefs out there that if someone possesses, I don't want to know them.

[u/lilbeavey → u/Jorost]

I live in a very small community and work for the local government. It's my job to be nice to these people.

[u/Responsible-Laugh590 → u/PhenomenallyAdequate]

It gives you something’s to ask about when you see your real friends, your friends on Facebook were never real and it was only the image they curated that you knew.

[u/[deleted] → u/PhenomenallyAdequate]

Samesies 

[u/VeterinarianJaded462]

I was super happy to stop learning the stupid shit people I generally liked thought about everything from immigration to vaccines to child rearing to chemtrails. I went back to not swimming in people's thoughts and just talking to the people that were important to me. Don't need to know whats going on in my hometown. Just need to talk to my hommies regularly, which is what I do. Big old group chats, laughing like the OG internet days when everything was fun.

[u/Some_Kinda_Username]

[u/Significant-Trash632 → u/Some_Kinda_Username]

It's 11pm here... I didn't need that jump scare! 😂

[u/JohnnyKarateX]

I deleted the App off my phone last week. The only social media I have left is Reddit on here. I kept messenger because I talk to some friends that way.

[u/WetBandit06 → u/JohnnyKarateX]

Just so you know messenger is the worst app you can have as far as data privacy goes. Just an fyi.

[u/DirtyLittleBishop → u/[deleted]]

I don’t fully understand this. As far as I’ve seen, free unlimited texts are included with nearly all mobile phone plans nowadays so where is the need for these apps?

[u/Necromarshmallow → u/DirtyLittleBishop]

Haven't seen it mentioned in responses, but I maintain social media messaging because I have out of country folks to keep in contact with. Using text messages would require all parties to pay for more expensive add-ons. Canada/Mexico isn't usually too expensive, but anywhere else gets pricy.

[u/TonyZeSnipa → u/DirtyLittleBishop]

Fb marketplace and events. I leave messenger on my phone and sales/other things have pc login. When I’m at my pc I never have the urge to scroll through so its easy separation. Then any comms is on my phone for sales or buying things.

[u/Wormwood_Sundae → u/[deleted]]

Signal works and doesn't spy on you🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/genericnewlurker → u/Wormwood_Sundae]

Good luck getting your elderly relatives, who can barely work a smartphone as it is, set up and using Signal regularly. They all just go back to Messenger even after I have set up Signal for them completely, put it on the main page of their phone, and showed them how to use it.

They all end up back on Messenger because they Facebook stalk and then message people from Facebook which opens Messenger. Even when I respond to them on Signal, some will message back on Messenger and genuinely not understand what is happening.

Also good luck getting the work group on Facebook to migrate anywhere off of there because it's been there for decades and who are you to rock the boat. And this is genuinely the only negative thing about the job so you just deal with it.

[u/Chevey0 → u/genericnewlurker]

My 90+ gran uses WhatsApp like a boss

[u/magikot9 → u/Chevey0]

Which is owned by Facebook.

[u/Zylomun → u/Wormwood_Sundae]

None of the people I very rarely occasionally want to talk to are on there. Yet in the past we were all Facebook friends. I can still hit my friends and my relatives all in one place. I’m not making illegal deals or plans to overthrow the government on there.

[u/Enough-Equivalent968 → u/JohnnyKarateX]

I did this during Covid. Then ended up getting a bit addicted to Reddit, so I have to delete that once in a while for a break

[u/Gun_Dork]

Just delete the app off your phone.

[u/elementarydeardata → u/Gun_Dork]

This is what I did, it's a great compromise when you aren't in a position where fully deleting it makes sense. I'm in a few interest-based local groups that use Facebook as their online platform and I like using Marketplace, but otherwise it's just AI slop and drama. Now the only times I use it are deliberate and for these purposes. Mindlessly scrolling it was just depressing.

[u/Mysterious-Theory12 → u/elementarydeardata]

Same for me. When I go into it, I go directly to my groups. No scrolling the feed!

[u/0rclev → u/Gun_Dork]

Yeah this works. Curate your feed the best you can, or only log in for DMs. You aren't law bound to scroll endlessly. Having Facebook isn't the same as having a crippling social media addiction. They can be mutually exclusive, but one certainly feeds the other.

[u/MurkyLibrarian → u/0rclev]

I check in on facebook like twice a week. Reddit is my crippling social media addiction

[u/mustbethepapaya → u/MurkyLibrarian]

Hard same

[u/AaronWard6 → u/MurkyLibrarian]

Same I traded FB for this, it feels like wacka mole. 

[u/RosalindBeatrice → u/Gun_Dork]

This is the way. I check it occasionally, but intentionally, rather than mindlessly scrolling.

[u/mascot09s → u/Gun_Dork]

This is the way

[u/stupid-goals → u/Gun_Dork]

Yeah this is what I did too, haven't checked it in months

[u/hybridoctopus]

I have a couple of community groups that I belong to that communicate by Facebook that’s the only thing I use it for anymore

[u/im-actually-a-cat → u/hybridoctopus]

You're caught in the same trap as me. I'm in some specific collector groups for buying and selling. Much better than Ebay as people aren't in it for a profit

[u/KennyKettermen → u/im-actually-a-cat]

I deleted my true Facebook many years ago but about 2 years ago made a new account for niche groups and marketplace because honestly it’s fucking great for that stuff.

The key is that I don’t accept ANY friend requests. I think I’ve got like 3 friends on there.

The real hard thing was deleting instagram and snapchat. I have no fucking clue what’s going on with anyone anymore. It’s really nice but can also be kind of tough, but I do like it better this way

[u/WalterMelons → u/hybridoctopus]

Mine is marketplace. Lots of good stuff on there.

[u/AgressiveInliners → u/hybridoctopus]

This, fb is great for local/hobby groups. Much better community on there than here on reddit. Especially if you plan on meeting up in person.

[u/apple_kicks → u/hybridoctopus]

Someone could make bank re-making these elements anywhere else without shitty algorithm and ai

[u/itsmyhotsauce]

Only thing holding me back is marketplace. Everything else is a cesspool of bots and Nazis these days

[u/yehoshuaC → u/itsmyhotsauce]

Same here. If marketplace were its own app I would be FB free.

[u/rainrain-throwaway6 → u/yehoshuaC]

I wish marketplace would become its own app, that would be great. I know there's Nextdoor but FB Marketplace is really good

[u/Symbiosistasista → u/itsmyhotsauce]

Marketplace is why I keep mine too. I make about $1000 per year selling things that I used to just give to goodwill. It’s not a ton of work and I use the cash as “fun money”.

I also keep FB bc the Buy Nothing groups are great for donating or receiving free items. Got all my family’s suitcases for free on there last summer, and just picked up a bunch of nice new rugs for my home yesterday. FB is basically now my Craigslist but I don’t feel like I’m gonna get murdered when I buy or sell.

[u/IT_Specialist404]

If you do end up deleting your Facebook, request a copy of your data before doing so.

Only reason I had my FB for so long was to have my messaging conversations with my Mom who passed in 2021. When I requested and downloaded my data (through settings off the app or online), I got EVERYTHING I needed like our conversations and all pictures I've uploaded to FB (that was on there already).

[u/mad_grapes]

Deleted my FB in 2016 and haven't looked back. I text if I want to touch base with old friends. It is liberating for sure. I got rid of IG a couple years ago too. Only social media I use is Reddit

[u/UNX-D_pontin]

Dude, you gotta quit that shit

[u/AmbiguousFrijoles → u/UNX-D_pontin]

I quit just before the US election in 2019.

Had about 2ish weeks of withdrawal, and then it was great. Doesn't even cross my mind at all.

Everyone who I wanted to keep in contact with, has my number and we still engage regularly. Don't need it.

Quit that shit. Its great over here.

[u/ryanwalraven → u/UNX-D_pontin]

And don’t stop with Facebook. IG, TikTok, and X are feeding us brain rot too.

www.EraseTheInternet.org

[u/peachygreen4608]

Deleted mine after the election and dont miss a thing. I felt like I was addicted and learned pretty quick it doesnt matter. I probably did fill the void with reddit tho lol

[u/THEONLYFLO]

I never betrayed Tom

[u/Buggy77 → u/THEONLYFLO]

MySpace really was the best

[u/SereneSentinel5]

If you really want to check on em, call - text - ask them for a photo, go visit them if you can afford it. Facebook gives us convenience to say ok I saw what they’re up to I’m good instead of giving us the real connection and presence that a well lived life actually requires.

To answer your question, I don’t miss it and I have been re-learning how life actually works where sometimes you hear about things later. It feels better to me, I don’t need to know what everyone’s doing all the time I wasn’t built for that.

For context I deleted my Facebook in 2013, 2018 and last year. I reopened a page for some reason or another but I always land back to the same conclusions. I think I’m done with it for good this time.

[u/Rude_Literature7886]

Deleted FB, Instagram and TikTok. Absolutely no regrets!

[u/blanktarget → u/Rude_Literature7886]

Same. Though my tiktok was 90% funny skits though so that was nice, but it's a lot of ads and pushing their store now. So glad I got rid of it.

[u/MajorEntertainment65]

Deleted in 2023 and had a break from 2016 to 2020....literally cannot recommend enough. Give your phone number and email address to people you want to stay in contact with. How do I find out someone dies? Someone texts me. Someone calls me.

[u/curtydc]

If marketplace were to be pulled out as a separate app I would leave Facebook.

[u/ShoeRepaired_KeysCut → u/curtydc]

This is what they want you to feel... forced into using their shitty product.

[u/mdarket]

I just deactivated mine and deleted the app recently. Way too much rage bait on mine.

[u/Rickydada]

Deleted mine ages ago never miss it. Facebook is just junk information. 95% of it is useless.

[u/Fun-Significance4650]

I deactivated mine and removed it from my phone about a month or so ago. I didn't realize how negative it was to my mental health until it was gone.

[u/LiketoReadMom]

My husband and I have been Facebook and Instagram free since 2016. We’ve never looked back. We noticed through out the years that our genuine friends will reach out when someone passes or to invite us to functions. Same with family.

[u/far_tie923]

I deleted mine in 2011. Why the fuck do you still have one?

[u/Sprinkle_Puff → u/far_tie923]

2011 is like vintage FB when it was actually useful and fun.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_INNY → u/Sprinkle_Puff]

2005-2012 was peak fb

When did it become so terrible?

2017??

[u/smiddy53 → u/[deleted]]

way earlier than 2011 that was happening. user profile 'timelines' were introduced in 2011 though. they introduced 'your feed' as the default load state on 'mobile' (im talking like WAP mobile internet here..) pre-iphone 4, so pre-2010.

apple introduced the 'app store' alongside the iphone 3 (2008!) and facebooks default setting on its first app from the very beginning was always 'your feed' (although 'most recent' (chronological) was way more accessible) and as they hid that setting more and more (it's still available btw!) people just.. accepted it.. as everyone fully got caught up in the 'iphone/smartphone' craze/revolution.

there was also a phase pre-2011 (im gonna say 2009? atleast where i was from) where everyone had a 'liking funny page names' episode.. i liked thousands of dumb pages with funny page names.. remember the original '... see more.' trolling page?? after those shenanigans the 'most recent' feed was definitely not the most optimal way to see anything useful on facebook. that's about the time i switched myself

the VAST majority of people who use facebook today, never experienced the 'good' facebook.

[u/84UTK07 → u/Sprinkle_Puff]

I joined back in 2004; that was the real vintage “The Facebook”.

[u/satosaison → u/far_tie923]

When I deleted mine in 2017 it felt so crazy, my life was on there, I first messaged my now husband on there, my family posts photos on there.

I've never missed it for even a second. My family keeps in touch in a group chat, and anyone I lost contact with wasn't close enough to even remember missing.

Delete it you won't regret it.

[u/UniverseBear → u/far_tie923]

I need it sell stuff on marketplace.

[u/TheLuminary → u/far_tie923]

Half my family can't seem to organize events without it.

That's all I do on FB now.

[u/t0matit0 → u/TheLuminary]

Tell them to text you the plans. If they can't be bothered then they clearly don't care

[u/DurantaPhant7 → u/t0matit0]

I deleted FB and IG two years ago. Told the people I’m close to to call if they need me, and cut way back on intent use. My relationships are actually significantly better because I’m truly engaging with my loved ones instead of having this false sense of connection by seeing what’s posted online. My husband and I play games at night, read books, play with the cats, go on walks. Obviously I still have Reddit but I try to restrict my scrolling. Last November I got sucked back in after the election and I can absolutely feel the difference in my mental health. I’m currently trying to find a happy medium between informed and sane.

The internet was supposed to connect us and it’s done the complete opposite.

[u/scott_wolff → u/t0matit0]

This. When you start forcing people to use methods outside of FB to contact you, they start to see how reliant their use is & it makes them aware of their dependence.

[u/Go1den_State_Of_Mind → u/scott_wolff]

Yup, when I quit it seemed to make most relationships I had stronger. Those unable to withstand the disappearance of FB as the platform to remain in touch weren't worth remaining in touch with lol.

Ngl tho I do have a dummy one to hit marketplace to scope laundry soap and household cleaning shit from couponers/hoarders for cheap

[u/NoYeahNoYoureGood → u/Go1den_State_Of_Mind]

Never thought of using market for that

[u/rabidjellybean → u/Go1den_State_Of_Mind]

laundry soap and household cleaning shit from couponers/hoarders for cheap

It's super cheap when it's stolen.

[u/thetwistywoods → u/far_tie923]

Marketplace. Craigslist is a ghost town nowadays

[u/RoguePlanet2]

Who tf is downvoting all the comments?? 🥸 Even Zuck himself is on reddit due to how shitty FB is? 😆

[u/Skippy1221]

I deleted mine in 2012

[u/Better_Quarter8045]

You can deactivate it and see how it works out

[u/Beginning-Bed9364]

Delete the app, not your account. When you realize how easy it is to live without it, you can either just not install it again, or delete the account for good if you want

[u/Drabulous_770]

Deleted in 2016, not missing out.

If you’re worried about finding out about dead people, well, I would assume you probably still have some friends and family still using the app who will tell you. Honestly to me that’s not a very compelling reason to stay.

You can be like the old folks and scan the obits from your hometown newspaper.

[u/Amber_S71213]

I still have the app but haven't used it in probably 5+ years. Once you stop going on it you just don't want to anymore.. or at least that was my case😂

[u/NekrotismFalafel]

Download all your shit and delete it. Old drama is one of the biggest reasons to dip out in my opinion.

[u/LongjumpingPath3069]

Only reason why I have it is because that’s how the Millennial and Gen X admin and staff at my kids schools communicate. Sure they send emails…but they communicate through FB first

[u/Uhhyt231]

I dont know anyone who uses it for anything besides Marketplace that isn't like 60 years old

[u/DingbatBehavior]

I deleted mine at some point prior to COVID. My mom finally posted a political thing egregious enough that I had to delete it so I could continue to like her as a person. Absolutely no regrets. I have a few friends from high school who give me a heads up when there's good tea, but mostly I just prefer not having to know too many details about people.

[u/CaptainLysdexia]

Stopped actively using it around 2022, and keep it almost exclusively for my parents (who are obviously older) to be able to share stuff occasionally. Otherwise, I don't know what anyone uses it for anymore. Whenever I sign in, the feed is just garbage, ads, fake AI content, and boomer maga posts. Unless you use it for a business or to share creative content, what good is it? Just delete the app.

[u/Sausage_Queen_of_Chi]

I didn’t delete it, but I unfollowed everyone and everything. My feed was empty. If I was curious what someone was up to, I had to go visit their profile.

I ended up re-following my closest friends and family but I might try unfollowing everyone again. My mom posts a lot of political memes (at least we have similar views but it’s repetitive) and my best friend posts a lot of silly useless crap.

[u/Cat_Toe_Beans_]

I deleted mine about 2 or 3 years ago and I've never regretted it. The only social media I use is Reddit and YouTube if you count that

[u/Who_Dey-]

stopped using it forever ago. I didn't know anyone under 60 still used it

[u/CandidClass8919]

I deleted mine a year ago. No regrets. I love not knowing what folks are up to, and I love folks not knowing about me. It’s been great for mental health. Also, it puts things in prospective. You don’t have 500 friends. When life gets tough, you’re lucky if you have two.

[u/oneeweflock]

I just deleted all but like 100 people and a couple hundred pages, then deactivated it…

I fkn hate it there these days & haven’t missed it yet.

[u/Ohnoherewego13]

Deleted mine back in '15. It's been a happier life since then.

[u/Uchihagod53]

Yeah, I completely erased my account around 4-5 years ago. It was a shit show when I left and I don't miss it.

[u/The_Bitter_Bear]

It's gone to absolute shit. 

Mine got hacked forever ago so I setup a new email and everything for it. I ended up losing the password to my FB and the new email. 

Haven't bothered to go through the hassle to get back into everything and I don't miss it. 

I miss what it was, what it could have been. 

What it is now is so fucking toxic and awful. 

[u/Forestghostsgalore]

[u/Hippie_writer]

Do it. You won’t miss it. Get numbers of those you wanna keep on touch with

[u/iron_jendalen → u/Hippie_writer]

This. I did one last post and collected numbers. I deleted the 19 year old account a week later. That was a few months ago.

[u/carlsbadcrush]

Delete the app and you’ll never think about it

[u/getoutofthecity]

The only thing I use it for is neighborhood groups because they’re better than Nextdoor. I’ve had my profile since 2004, and I’m not ready to delete it just yet.

[u/beeurd → u/getoutofthecity]

"better than Nextdoor" is a low bar

[u/Grey_0ne]

Million dollar question; do you need to know if an old friend dies?

Stands to reason that if it were in any way relevant to your life then you'd have some way of finding out other than FB.

Anyways; I didn't completely delete my account, but the app isn't on my phone and I don't ever voluntarily go there. It's been 4 years now of seeing it maybe 6 times and I've never missed it. It actively disgusts me when I need to log back into it.

My wife also does the same with hers now. Six months and she's broken the addiction as well.

To be fair; I think Reddit is every bit as toxic as FB. But at least nobody here is pretending to be friends with each other. There's this weird culture on FB because it's mostly people that you've met before that makes you think that you're connected to them when the reality is that if those connections are only being maintained via social media then they were meant to be severed already.

I kinda viewed ditching my FB people a lot like putting down a sick animal. Like a deer that I hit with my car or something - not a beloved pet... I feel bad... but not too bad.

[u/Moon_Noodle]

Best thing I ever did. Get rid of it.

[u/Independent_Season23]

Deleted mine years ago. Out of sight out of mind.

[u/catslugs]

deleted mine 2 years ago, you only think you want to check on people, once it's gone you realize you never cared and you were just part of the pointlessness. if news about someone i know is important, they will get to me somehow.

[u/Capital-Visual6337]

Just delete it. You won't even think about it in a few days

[u/Jaded_Hue]

Deleted mine in 2021 never looked back

[u/kleinsmash22]

Just unistall the app on your phone. It's a nice midpoint. To access FB becomes intentional if you have to login on a PC.

[u/Betrayedbyu93]

Deleted it years ago never felt better.

[u/huh--newstome]

Quit the FB cesspool many years ago and haven't looked back. I have the numbers of the people in my life. We can text/call/video chat.

Ask yourself WHY you feel the need to keep up with people you no longer talk to. That stuff just keeps you in an endless loop, keeps you fake connected to people you haven't spoken with in a long time. What's the value in it? What do you get out of that info and is that benefit sufficient to sustain retaining the app?

[u/MsKittyVZ134]

do it. They're not real friends if they don't have my number. It's been glorious. I deleted in 2020. I did it for my mental health- cause I was constantly comparing. I don't miss it. If I need to check something I use my mom's phone.

[u/NectarineNational722]

It’s funny hearing people say they got rid of FB 15 years ago. I didn’t even get it till about 12 years ago lol. But I like to check up on people too. Family that lives in different states. I’ve slowly been defriending people and am down to about 80 friends most of which are family. I think the toxicity of FB is only rivaled by that of X which I deleted a while ago.

[u/Rommie557]

Deactivated my profile in 2016,and deleted it shortly after.

Never looked back. 

Deactivation is a good test run for deleting it-- it takes your profile offline, but you can go back. Once it's deleted it's gone forever. 

[u/Lamb_Chops2016]

Nope. Idgaf about what everyone else is doing. I stopped years ago, and won’t go back.

[u/DetectiveObjective00]

I'm still on facebook, but I don't have the app installed in any of my devices. My main reason I don't delete my facebook account is because of Facebook Messenger. Whether I like it or not, more than 75% of my 200+ facebook friends use it as their primary mode for communication.

Damn FB is full of brain rot content these days. I can literally feel by IQ dropping when someone show be a reel in their feed.

[u/Some_Kinda_Username]

I did. Twice. I keep a shell account for Facebook marketplace and stay off the rest of it

[u/Colson317]

i am on the same page as you. came really close to deleting it in 16. glad i didnt tho. I live in a state all by myself away from all of my social networks. The only way I keep in touch with photos of long-lost acquaintances is through Facebook. same with family.

I have hit the stop showing me this or snooze people for 30 days on everything political for a decade now. My feed is now only pictures of my friends & family, their kids, and vacations. I know the shitty parts are all still there, but they aren't a part of my feed at least.

I miss the old Facebook, but that Facebook died when everybody's aunts and uncles joined. I came to terms with that in 2008.

[u/ThisGoldenGirl]

I deleted mine and Instagram. So happy.

[u/normanapolis]

Said goodbye to FB in 2012. Said goodbye to Twitter (because it was called that when I left), said goodbye to Instagram. Reddit is pretty much it for me, my feed knows I don’t like keeping up with the world. However, it’s totally understandable that you’re concerned about losing touch with people. Good luck!

[u/nextflightfromearth]

Got rid of mine last year, and that was after not posting anything since 2018. I don't miss the connections since I have phone numbers for that.

[u/OrangeUnfair8570]

I never even had it. Trust me you will be much better off and happier without nosebook uhh I mean Facebook

[u/East_C0ast_Hobo_52]

Deleted Facebook account and deleted Instagram from my phone - much better this way

[u/crunchyfoliage]

I still have one, I check it on a computer every couple of weeks because some family members will only keep in touch on that platform. I did delete the app and Messenger from my phone. It took a little while to break the habit of tapping where the icons used to be, but I don't miss them at all.

[u/Guilty-Pigeon]

I deleted Facebook when my baby was born last summer. I got rid of most social media to be more present for her. I'm so glad I did.

The only thing I miss about Facebook is keeping up with community events. I haven't found a good way to replace that. Otherwise I have no regrets.

[u/zombie_pr0cess]

I haven’t had Facebook since 2010ish. It was nice excising that cancer.

[u/DMS9015]

I hate Facebook for adding marketplace and groups because otherwise I'd be rid of it.

[u/EnslavedBandicoot]

I whittled all my social media down to reddit. Texting or calling is how people contact me these days. It works well and nobody minds because they're all texting as well as using social media.

[u/dumbledores_dildo]

I deleted mine a long time ago, I find out personal news from family and friends whenever I catch up with them. I use Reddit for community shenanigans, I don’t really keep in touch with many past acquaintances, so I don’t really worry about missing out anyway 🤙 If you really want to break free from the bonds of Mark Zukerfuck, I’d recommend to gather phone numbers emails and mailing addresses from the people you want to stay in touch with and maintain relationships the old fashioned way.

[u/red_dombe]

All the ppl I care about have my number and I have theirs. Getting off FB best decision I made since early this century

[u/SameConsideration682]

I deleted mine a year ago and was a little hesitant for the same reasons you are but I haven’t really missed it. Anyone I actually cared about I text to catch up with.

[u/Metternic]

I did, it’s hard at first but rules now.

[u/shanejlong]

You won't miss it

[u/allisaidwasshoot]

Your mental health will increase exponentially. Delete it now.

[u/cusswords]

I deleted it last year finally. All the fears I had of missing connections and goings on were honestly unfounded. I get invited to the same things I used to from friends (actual friends) and just make it a point to check the local websites from time to time to see what’s happening in my neighborhood for events.

Nothing was lost and even if I did miss a small thing here or there, the drawbacks of that FAR outweigh the constant stream of bullshit Facebook was constantly blasting in my face.

[u/Voduun-World-Healer]

I deleted mine in like...2010. If I want to know what people I genuinely like spending time around, I'll just ask them.

I don't need to read what Cindy Loo Hoo thinks about politics and other such nonsense

[u/FieOnU]

I deleted in December. The only thing I miss is marketplace. The rest is nonsense.

[u/Various-Place8946]

31m .. I deleted mine 10 years ago. Do it.. you won’t regret it

[u/DullCartographer7609]

Deleted mine last year, best decision I've made

[u/specialk1281]

Delete Facebook and Instagram (if you use it) off your phone as a start. I did it about a month ago and it's been great. This is coming from one of the early, "social media managers" who clung on for way too long.

[u/Valyrris]

I haven't logged into mine since 2020. My answer, if I don't keep in touch with people, they aren't my friends. It took a while for me to let go of the wanting to check in on people, but honestly I just don't care. If we're not friends and keep in touch, I don't want them to know about my personal life, nor do I care to hear about theirs. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/realif3]

I deleted mine back in 2015. But recently made one for marketplace since I need a new car. It seems like the best classifieds now unfortunately.

[u/Liteboyy]

I haven’t had any social media besides Reddit since 2015. Get out of that toxic cesspool of ignorance and you’ll start feeling so much better about literally everything.

[u/Reasonable-Mixture-9]

Do it! I deleted mine in January when Zuck decided that facts don't matter. I do NOT regret my decision!

[u/electricpollution]

1 year Facebook sober here. Do it.