Facebook Makes You Lonely

By Jenny Mills.

Recently I have been coming to the conclusion that Facebook makes you lonely. Well, social media makes me feel lonely anyway. Yet being called “social” media, does that not mean that it should be doing the opposite for us? Making us feel involved? Making us feel social?

For the past 12 months, I have been feeling more and more alone… by being on facebook. I’m feeling more and more insecure about posting on the platform as my “likes” have reduced. People I really do enjoy seeing updates from seem to have disappeared from my feed. I seem to only be seeing posts from the people I really don’t want to follow! And it seems to be the same people all the time! Where is everyone else?!

Reduced Business Posts

Furthermore, I hardly seem to see any company posts anymore. Again just the same companies over and over. I actually enjoyed seeing posts from organisations. Places to visit. Food and life hacks. New products to market. Makeup, etc. They gave me inspiration and ideas. Some of my favourite clothes I bought on a whim after seeing a post on facebook.

Yet now, I seem utterly fed up and bored by posts from people I’m fed up of reading about. Yet day in day out I still keep looking at it. Like a robot on overdrive. I even come away feeling like a robot when I look at it! Do you?

New Facebook Rules

Is it a coincidence that this shift in enjoyment on social links to the 2018 facebook algorithm changes? To show us more content we are likely to want to see based on Facebook’s judgements?

How to Stop Social Media Being a Negative In My Life

So, I decided it was time to look into this non “social” media dilemma and try to understand what the solution could be.

What To Do Instead Of Facebook

And another dilemma! What do I do with my time now that I’m not on social media? What can I do instead of endlessly checking in on my Facebook feed? Well, here are a few ideas:

1. New Apps. In top spot for me was gaming apps. My favourite by far was Suduko by Finger Arts. I downloaded the app and quickly became addicted to the number challenge!
2. Write Your Story. I spend more of my downtime writing now. Doing something I feel more worthwhile. Why don’t you start your own online diary with Penzu? Or start a blog?
3. Move more. I’m more active. I spend less time sitting down or idling over my phone and more time being proactive. Its helped me lose weight too! And I’m not even working out!
4. Get Reading. I didn’t start reading until quite late in life. I was in my 20’s before I began to enjoy reading. And now I have found my genera, I love nothing more than a good read.
5. Start Talking. I had a hard few months teaching myself how to pick up the phone and talk to friends and family. Making more effort to be more like I was 10 or 20 years ago. And now I have a lot more REAL friends! I’m part of WhatsApp groups of girls. Niche groups on Messenger around the sports I enjoy and family groups.

Help Others To Make A Difference

Tell me what you have done to get off social media and the impact it has made on your life? How do you escape?