New Years Resolution for 2018: Eight Reasons I’m Deleting my Facebook Account

My New Year’s resolution is to close my Facebook account.

The desire to do so has been on my mind for a long time. I have even de-activated the account several times. But I always came back to re-activate it, because Facebook knows that we just cannot resist checking in for gossip. However, this time I am going to use the full delete mode. For reference, here’s the link.

Delete (not deactivate) your Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account

Without too much drama, here is the list of reasons that I believe we should consider dumping all forms of social media, and frankly, screens in general.

Concentration: Before the internet became the portal to the world, I was able to concentrate on things for long periods of time. Reading a book or learning a new task could be enjoyed for hours. But with the internet in the back of my mind, any whim that I might want to “know” about distracts me and I quickly lose interest in what I want to accomplish.

Interruption: The endless messaging formats feel like a bombardment. There is endless messaging. Email was initially useful. But now there is texting, Facebook messenger, phone calls, Skype calls, Slack channels (and calls), comment replies, likes and upvotes, all of which disconnects me from the real world.

Tracking: Being logged into Facebook (or Google, or Amazon) means you are continually tracked. What you search on, what pages you load, who you talk to. Even your inner thoughts are known just by what you click on. Actually, even if you are not logged into Facebook, there are cookies, supercookies, and browser fingerprinting to track you. The old argument that “I have nothing to hide so who cares?” doesn’t hold water. I wouldn’t want someone following me around in the real world and taking notes, and online is no different. I don’t like it. It’s wrong.

Hacking / Theft: Somewhere between Ransomware, bot networks, fake accounts, the NSA’s backdoors, and the Equifax breach, it became painfully obvious that the best way to avoid losing my money or my identity is to avoid a digital presence altogether. It seems we’ve happily given too much info away. Closing all unused credit cards, online accounts, and avenues to personal funds (PayPal, EBay) has become a needful step toward any reasonable chance at security. Just think of how many places you have entered you information on the web. It’s just sitting out there. Account killer is a good place to start: https://www.accountkiller.com/en/.

Illusion of Security: Each day new vulnerabilities and attack methods spring forth. These threats are not only coming from Russian hackers and basement geeks. They appear from all sides, in technical and not-very-technical formats. Few people know how best to secure their online presence, while the vast majority are sheep amidst the wolves.

Be aware that anyone promising 100% security is either lying or full of hubris. Strategies to mitigate risk can help, but elements of your online life will lack security or privacy in some capacity. Finding and exploiting security gaps is what drives all of these attackers in the first place, and the game doesn’t end when a security hole is plugged. There will be another tomorrow. Patch your systems. Strengthen your passwords.

Vitriol: Social media is a cesspool. To prove this, click on any “Trending” article and read the comments. We weren’t raised to act like that. Read YouTube video comments, or Twitter replies, or any news article comment section. Online people are ugly. Cruel and hateful, and we so readily sink to the lowest level with below the belt shots. If you dare to be creative or share something about yourself on YouTube, prepare to be demolished with words of people hiding behind their phones and laptops. The online world dehumanizes others and allows cowards to pretend they are bold.

And what about this: doesn’t it almost seem like we are addicted to being agitated now? When I have five minutes I check the news, almost like I want some irritating tidbit to mull over. Don’t get me started on 24 hour news channels, either. Those screens showing news in airports, gas pump, restaurants, malls — their function is to irritate and keep us watching.

Thought control: Sorry to disappoint any conspiracy nutjobs, but this isn’t about government mind control. It’s actually about all you quacks and sowers of discord that peddle bullshit as truth online. Removing myself from the online world is the only way to preserve a clear mind where critical thinking has any chance. Anyone with a half-baked theory that would never get traction in actual conversation can sway millions with a well-crafted video with ominous music.

“Alexa, turn yourself off”: These devices are so cool. Truly. Smart doorbells, light switches, garage door openers, refrigerators, pill bottle caps, etc. The decade will put computers everywhere in the house and public sphere. That means microphones and cameras on everything, for convenience sake. The trade-off is that is privacy and a secure identity. Facebook and Google and Amazon will be there too. And government actors, foreign hackers, deviant script kiddies. Even if “aren’t doing anything illegal” this should disturb you. If it doesn’t then you are willing to trade freedoms for convenience, and that is so not cool.

Finally: If you know how to secure your online presence, help out your grandparents, parents, neighbors, and friends. Many people don’t know how, and that makes them even more vulnerable. You might be their only trusted computer buddy. Share the love. And be sure to sign out when you’re done.

Home WiFi security tips: https://www.lifewire.com/wireless-home-network-security-tips-818355

Delete Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account

Account Killer: https://www.accountkiller.com/en/