Same happen to me and I realized that where not my friends! The question someone asked me then, was how many of them would remember your birthday?
Phone numbers + messaging apps is good way to stay connected.
To me, I dont care if my friends remember my birthday. I care if they are genuine friends and I have good conversations and laughs around them.
Someone remembering your birthday is just them putting a reminder in the calendar. Doesnt mean much, not to me at least.
So you have an actual human connection to these people? Friends could have a laugh over forgetting someones birthday, because its built on a real connection that doesnt go away over missing the small things.
I moved to a new town recently. People don’t give out their phone numbers to connect. They give out their FB and Instagram accounts. Not having either is perceived as weird.
Facebook is something most people have and use to connect because most people don’t care about the privacy invasions or manipulative algorithms. It’s a fucked up world, not a fucked up town.
It is addiction just like any other. I felt like I can’t quit it, I feel like I will lose connection with the friends and family that is still using it. That it keeps me informed and other BS.
After deleting it on 2nd try (after navigating the maze to delete, they gave 30 days to change mind, hoping I won’t be able to resist and will log in. And of course I couldn’t resist the first time and logged back in) I realized that I haven’t lost anything of value and the people that I still matter I have other ways to contact.
Surprisingly, Craigslist is rather active in my area. It’s still not as active as marketplace, but it makes it possible to get by without having an FB account.
It’s just not really a thing here in Australia. I just checked and in my state (about 2 million people) there’s a dozen ads or so across all categories.
A distant second to facebook marketplace is gumtree. I just had a look to see how popular that is and their site just seems to be down. Shits fucked really.
I tried to find something on marketplace a month ago. Dozens of posts because it’s a super common item, all posts were a week or less old. None were legitimate. Every one was a scam, responses all leading to bullshit websites to buy, or users that never responded.
Has to get the item on Ebay instead because apparently they actually have basic scam prevention systems in place while Facebook apparently doesn’t have shit.
In my area Craigslist is actually better for selling vehicles or say boats, but thats about it. Nobody uses nextdoor around here, so you dont get much traffic.
Aside from the already-mentioned marketplace, social networks like FB are fit well for localized giveaways. Where I am, the local analog of FB has groups where bakeries and cafes give out food remaining at the end of the day.
One population that this particularly pertains to are homeless people. Some folks get surprised when a homeless person has a smartphone, but it’s a means for finding help and resources.
Why use Facebook at all.
I deleted my facebook account in 2022 and have essentially not been contacted by friends since, so there’s that
:(
Same happen to me and I realized that where not my friends! The question someone asked me then, was how many of them would remember your birthday?
Phone numbers + messaging apps is good way to stay connected.
To me, I dont care if my friends remember my birthday. I care if they are genuine friends and I have good conversations and laughs around them.
Someone remembering your birthday is just them putting a reminder in the calendar. Doesnt mean much, not to me at least.
So you have an actual human connection to these people? Friends could have a laugh over forgetting someones birthday, because its built on a real connection that doesnt go away over missing the small things.
Have you tried to contact them outside of FB?
Perhaps you’re just not friends.
I moved to a new town recently. People don’t give out their phone numbers to connect. They give out their FB and Instagram accounts. Not having either is perceived as weird.
Hope this helps.
You’re in a fucked up town., and that attachment to the platform is more fucked up.
Unfortunately that’s like most people outside.
Facebook is something most people have and use to connect because most people don’t care about the privacy invasions or manipulative algorithms. It’s a fucked up world, not a fucked up town.
It is addiction just like any other. I felt like I can’t quit it, I feel like I will lose connection with the friends and family that is still using it. That it keeps me informed and other BS.
After deleting it on 2nd try (after navigating the maze to delete, they gave 30 days to change mind, hoping I won’t be able to resist and will log in. And of course I couldn’t resist the first time and logged back in) I realized that I haven’t lost anything of value and the people that I still matter I have other ways to contact.
It was just an illusion.
Edit: fixed
Same. When I stopped using it, little changed, except I had a lot more free time and peace.
Marketplace can be good for local deals and I can’t fault anyone for taking advantage of that
Yeah I use it extensively for this.
If it asked me to verify and I couldn’t use someone else’s face it would be a tough decision.
Surprisingly, Craigslist is rather active in my area. It’s still not as active as marketplace, but it makes it possible to get by without having an FB account.
It’s just not really a thing here in Australia. I just checked and in my state (about 2 million people) there’s a dozen ads or so across all categories.
A distant second to facebook marketplace is gumtree. I just had a look to see how popular that is and their site just seems to be down. Shits fucked really.
how are you guys curving their invasive dark patterns? They are dead set on forcing you into their bullshit to use marketplace.
No idea. Never been asked for any verification.
Remember that folks are using ‘Garry’s Mod’ to circumvent UK’s facial recognition requirement.
Marketplace is the one and only reason I havent deleted my account. It sucks but it is by far the best way to buy and sell.
I tried to find something on marketplace a month ago. Dozens of posts because it’s a super common item, all posts were a week or less old. None were legitimate. Every one was a scam, responses all leading to bullshit websites to buy, or users that never responded.
Has to get the item on Ebay instead because apparently they actually have basic scam prevention systems in place while Facebook apparently doesn’t have shit.
How does it compare to nextdoor & craigslist?
In my area Craigslist is actually better for selling vehicles or say boats, but thats about it. Nobody uses nextdoor around here, so you dont get much traffic.
Through no fault of my own, the people I talk to (family) are tied to the FB ecosystem…and they are very resilient as to leaving it.
2026 will have to be the year of “please, for the love of all that is holy, can we switch to Signal”
Aside from the already-mentioned marketplace, social networks like FB are fit well for localized giveaways. Where I am, the local analog of FB has groups where bakeries and cafes give out food remaining at the end of the day.
One population that this particularly pertains to are homeless people. Some folks get surprised when a homeless person has a smartphone, but it’s a means for finding help and resources.
My elderly father knows how to use it and posts nature photos all the time.