I appreciate your well-researched and well-thought out article on this subject. I would also add my (purely anecdotal) observation that Facebook tends to reward more superficial and happy posting. If you try to use FB to call attention to real problems, post good analysis of complex issues, or highlight anything negative or controversial, these posts tend to be ignored. On the other hand, superficial posts — light humor, photos of pets, selfies, etc. — gain more “likes.” This, in turn, seems to feed into FB’s algorithms, further reinforcing your positive posts, and discouraging your more negative (or perhaps meaningful) posts. Eventually, this seems to foster a warped sense of reality.

That being said, I do enjoy spending time browsing Facebook, commenting on various issues, sharing things that I find interesting, and exchanging opinions with with people in far-flung places who I would never be able to meet in real life. I don’t think it’s entirely negative, as long as one is aware of the pitfalls. In the same way, having a glass or two of wine on the weekend does not make one an alcoholic.