I joined FB 10 years ago and I only ever had actual friends from real life as connections, with a few folks added who I had taken crafts workshops with, also IRL. The main use I had for it was one of my best friends from high school was battling cancer and she kept everyone posted on what was going on. She passed in 2019, and I since then have spent very little time on FB. I only access it via computer browser using Firefox so I can "fence it in" and not have their tracking leak out, so to speak. I use it very rarely to send messages to two friends who just never check email and whom I am not close enough to that I would randomly call them on the phone. I also use it to be part of some private crafts and writing groups I belong to. So many artists and instructors default to using FB Groups that if I want to participate in class activities and discussion, I have to stay on the platform. Earlier this year I deleted all photos with people in them for privacy considerations.

I do spend a lot of time on Instagram but it's focused on being part of a couple of small communities of artists who take part in challenges and share their work. No selfies, no "influencing." Even so, I have been spending too much time scrolling and I am working on cutting back.