The Facebook Free Blog

If the challenge was to cut off an oft-used method of social interaction over the internet, why should I be restricting myself of Facebook, which I never used in my life?

I thought I’d try imposing a different challenge, and that is to cut off all methods of communication to other people over the Internet. It is certainly a more drastic challenge, but it will be the surefire method for inducing any kind of withdrawal-like symptoms.

I have been a frequent user of instant messengers for a majority of my lifetime — since my acquisition of any Internet connection. I always like to leave any messenger programs on, just in case anyone has anything to say to me. It does not require much attention to keep up with any messages directed to me, thus I am not wasting any time ‘checking’ it.

In this regard, I never understood the point of having a Facebook account- if I am using it to interact with people I already know in real life, why not just use a speedier, more convenient IM, or better yet, meet them in real life? Only other use, I assume, is to find new acquaintances over the net through Facebook’s interests-based search system, which would create the problem of Internet addiction- and, even then, why must it be Facebook?

I’m sure those who are actually affected by this challenge will find their ways around to not using Facebook. Come on; it’s the Internet.

My name is Henry Han.

My teacher from the ICT 12 course from Pinetree Secondary has devised a plan, a plan for us to not use facebook for a full week, starting today.

This is day three.

I still haven’t been on facebook yet. To prevent any of this from happening, I went into my router and changed the network filter settings to block out all traffic from facebook, so now there is currently no contact with facebook at all. Even email from from facebook won’t be received because of the network blockage. I’ve removed all shortcuts and bookmarks from my Safari web browser to prevent accidental access to facebook, even if my router has been set to block traffic from it. I’m that determined.

I’ve found that facebook has been harder than usual to keep out. I’ve heard of new pictures being posted on the site, and I really feel the need to see the pictures. However, I’ve been kept under control and still have not been on facebook yet.

There’s only two days left, and I’m planning to even delete the facebook app I have on my iPod. I’m still thinking about it. Maybe after this experiment I won’t go on facebook as much as I used to, even though I didn’t go on the site much from the start.

Two days left, let’s keep this up 😀

mmhmm.  the third day.  stayed up to 5:00 am working, surprisingly, and not gaming.  Magicka seemed pretty damn fun, too, but I couldn’t spare time to be distracted.

Ehh.  It’s hard to avoid Facebook, ’cause it’s everywhere.  I do have to question and resist,  but it doesn’t screw my brain ’til it hurts.  It’s like any other day in an ordinary week.

If you’re seriously having a Facebook addiction, you probably never had a heart of your own, anyways, so there’s nothing to fear.  You’ve probably followed all your friends and just went along with them, never did anything that made you stick out.  Quite pathetic, actually.

Maybe I’m just cranky today from a lack of sleep.  Not much to write anymore.  I’ll check in with you tomorrow.

–Osman

So today is third day without using a facebook. I don’t feel like I’m dieing without it. The only “Facebook Free” advantage is the fact that I have more time.

First day without Facebook is already a little bit painful. I am starting to feel like i don’t know what is going on.

Hello…

Wow… I feel so disconnected…

My spare time has really increased over the last few days. I am 99 percent certain that this is because I stopped using Facebook over the last few days. Fortunately, I did not cheat yet, and I will try my best to not cheat for the rest of the campaign.

Another change in life that I experienced over the last few days was that I started calling my friends more frequently, and I began to meet more people in my spare time. This is quite surprising to me; I never thought that stopping the usage of Facebook for a couple of days would have such effect on me.

Well… I feel isolated… That is how I would describe how I feel on Day 3 of this Facebook Free Campaign.

This does not come that hard for me considering the only time i’ve ever used facebook was when i was told to… or being stalker-ish and looking up information about someone. But the reality of it is… that i could go a whole year without facebook… or longer and not find anything wrong.

No problem resisting to go on to facebook right now although I found myself going on forums and reading a lot more threads than usual. It isnt because I need to feel “connected” but rather I havve more free time browsing other things on the internet. Easy.

I really feel disconnected now.

I slept way earlier than usual.

I read more manga since last monday.