Getting dragged back onto Facebook kicking and screaming
Ok, maybe more shrugging and muttering
I haven’t used Facebook properly for years. I used to check in every month or so to clear my notifications. Invariably, nothing of consequence had occurred since my last visit.
“Oh, but aren’t your friends on Facebook?”
Yes, I suppose. But my online social engagement with people I know happens on Instagram. Yes, that’s basically the same as Facebook I know, but the platform’s different. I guess I prefer visual interactions.
Another downside of Facebook is that there is so much junk floating around. Memes and videos and links and rants and more rants and memes and horrible news and more memes. Not like that on Instagram. Not on my feed, anyway. I follow my friends and art galleries, mostly. That keeps me fairly chilled and reflective.
I deleted the Facebook app from my phone many moons ago. Got rid of Messenger too. I use WhatsApp thanks. (Yes, I know, Facebook again!)
“But pray tell, did not thou speakest of being dragged back onto Facebook?”
Yay, verily. Indeed I did. Why?
Turns out there’s a pretty nifty writers group called Ninja Writers and they mostly hang out on Facebook in a private group. A private group’s good because that means all my posts in that group will stay private to those in the group… um… I hope.
I wouldn’t want to suddenly seem to be super active on Facebook to all my Facebook friends now would I? That would seriously damage my image. And it might motivate people to talk to me. Nobody needs that kind of grief.
So, on balance, keeping my Facebook account active for the purpose of engaging with a bunch of fellow writer folk seems worthwhile. Mind you, I haven’t reinstalled the app on my mobile. Added a web shortcut to my homescreen. I’m a proper little rebel, I am.
Any of you use Facebook for networking with fellow writers? What other platforms or groups have you found?
While you’re here, I’d love for you to sign up to my brand spanking new mailing list. Far from being a one-way broadcast channel, I’d like it to form the basis of a supportive community.
