Facebook addiction is real. If you’re still looking for a New Year’s Resolution, make this one: “I will curb my Facebook time.”

Why You Should:  Facebook Reprograms your Behavior

Sean Parker, one of Facebook’s early investors, recently spoke out against social media’s addictive power.

He admitted what many have suspected for years.  Facebook is designed to consume as much of your time and attention as possible. Each Like or Share gives you a bit of feel-good validation. Your brain loves this, and will try to get more.  It's very easy to get hooked.

A former Facebook executive, Chamath Palihapitiya, goes further in an expletive-laden speech at Stanford University and accuses the social network of “ripping apart” the fabric of society.  He won’t use social media anymore and he doesn’t allow his children to either.  “You don’t realize it, but you are being programmed.” 

Of additional concern, is the proliferation of fake news on Facebook that only serves to further divide an already divided nation. 

Solution? Cut back, or completely disengage.

How to Minimize Facebook Time

There are several ways to keep yourself off of Facebook. Lifewire gives us 5 Ways to Beat Facebook Addiction, including Facebook-blocking software like FB Limiter.

If you want to go cold-turkey and delete your Facebook account, click this link to do it: Delete Facebook Account. 

Make sure to save anything you want from your Facebook account first! It will go away if you don’t! (Here’s how to download a copy of your Facebook information: How Can I Download a Copy of My Facebook Data? – Facebook Help)

Overall, social media benefits everyone tremendously, when it’s used in moderation. Unfortunately, Facebook doesn't want moderation, and will try extremely hard to make you addicted to it. It’s even trying to lure children to join now.  Fight back this year. More real living and less virtual living!

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