leave facebook, lose friends?

timewerx

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I made this thread because for last couple of years, I've stopped using Facebook, except for the Facebook chat app which only gives me access to the messenger but not the rest of Facebook. That means I'm unable post any content, nor "like" / comment on the content of my friends.

At about the same time, I started losing real life friends who are also in my Facebook. Couldn't be just a coincidence.

How insecure can someone be if you stopped "liking" their content in Facebook??

Is this now the "Modern WAY" of being polite? Is this modern way of being polite justified before God? Justified with sound reasoning?

The reason I stopped using facebook is mostly finding it a big waste of time. A I simply don't like most of the content I'm seeing. It's all worldly stuff. Things we shouldn't fill our heads with as Christians.
 

mama2one

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it could just be a coincidence that you seem to be losing real life friends
call them up and talk or meet them somewhere

we all need more face-to-face time with people
 
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tryphena rose

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I made this thread because for last couple of years, I've stopped using Facebook, except for the Facebook chat app which only gives me access to the messenger but not the rest of Facebook. That means I'm unable post any content, nor "like" / comment on the content of my friends.

At about the same time, I started losing real life friends who are also in my Facebook. Couldn't be just a coincidence.

How insecure can someone be if you stopped "liking" their content in Facebook??

Is this now the "Modern WAY" of being polite? Is this modern way of being polite justified before God? Justified with sound reasoning?

The reason I stopped using facebook is mostly finding it a big waste of time. A I simply don't like most of the content I'm seeing. It's all worldly stuff. Things we shouldn't fill our heads with as Christians.
It may just be a season of separation. When I became a Christian, I lost many family members and friends I never expected to lose, but once I professed my faith, they wanted nothing to do with it. However it all worked out for the better because God has placed me in the presence of an amazing and uplifting church family, which is something I prayed really hard for and He certainly answered. No matter what trials come your way, rejoice in those trials because you never know what God has in store for your life!

P.S. I got rid of my social media about 4 years ago now, and I'm so much freer without it. I think it's a real bondage for many people because not only is it addictive, but it's easy to get lost in looking for affirmation from it or finding one's self-worth in it. So good for you for making that choice for yourself! :oldthumbsup:
 
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carp614

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I did a pretty comprehensive purge several years ago when I realized that I had tailored my feed in a way that inflamed anger and fear. Consciously managing my feed was a new skill for me that had a tremendously positive impact on my outlook. Developing that level of discernment about what I consume makes me glad I didn't completely walk away at that time, but now I've tailored my feed to the point that it isn't interesting to me anymore.

It's nice to occasionally share a message with an old friend. I like to post pictures showing what's happening in my life sometimes. Mostly I just dote on my children. I can do that without Facebook.

I haven't made any final decision, but I can tell you what goes on in my Facebook world does not influence my real interpersonal relationships in any way. I don't think any relationships will change if I drop Facebook.
 
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timewerx

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but it's easy to get lost in looking for affirmation from it or finding one's self-worth in it. So good for you for making that choice for yourself! :oldthumbsup:

All of my friends are Christians so it's a bit disconcerting that Facebook seem to have such a huge impact even among Christians.

Do facebook users on average feel offended towards their friends who did not "like" their posts or pictures?
 
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timewerx

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it could just be a coincidence that you seem to be losing real life friends
call them up and talk or meet them somewhere

we all need more face-to-face time with people

I'm currently undergoing a very difficult period of my life which doesn't give me enough free time to talk to and see friends. I can't even find time to go to the beach even though I miss the beach so badly.

That's one other reason I stopped using facebook. No time. It can be hard to discipline yourself not spending too much time on people's feeds. Just avoid getting online, is the best solution for me.

I even tried unfollowing some feeds but still not enough.
 
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timewerx

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I did a pretty comprehensive purge several years ago when I realized that I had tailored my feed in a way that inflamed anger and fear. Consciously managing my feed was a new skill for me that had a tremendously positive impact on my outlook.

Managing my feed worked for a while with me. But still wasted too much time in it.

It's hard to find discipline so I just stopped using it.
 
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tryphena rose

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All of my friends are Christians so it's a bit disconcerting that Facebook seem to have such a huge impact even among Christians.

Do facebook users on average feel offended towards their friends who did not "like" their posts or pictures?
Honestly, I think people are way too easily offended these days so it wouldn't surprise me if they held it against you for not liking their stuff. Not saying that is the case, because I don't know them, but it just wouldn't shock me if that happened to be the case. Generally, I would say people do hold feelings against others for not liking their content, which is really petty IMO.

The Bible speaks lots about vanity (Ecclesiastes is best for that) and it's place in the human heart and I think social media most definitely caters to people's vain desires. If your friends are professing Christians, then my best advice would be to lovingly confront them on their behavior and direct them towards a better path--one that helps keep their eyes on Christ instead of worldly things. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to be there for one another, to encourage each other in our faith. That's why fellowship is so incredibly important. And sometimes, people are going through their own personal stuff or may even be struggling with their faith internally. That's why your best bet would be to talk to them, let them know you're there even if they need an open ear or a shoulder to lean on. If they reject you and leave you, then it's probably for the better anyway. Just keep them in your prayers that they choose to walk the straight and narrow path all the days of their lives.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2

Edit: Sorry, I just noticed how you mentioned you're going through a difficult time, thus don't really have the time to talk with them much. If you need any further advice, I'm all ears. In the meantime, I'll be praying for you. :prayer:
 
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timewerx

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Honestly, I think people are way too easily offended these days so it wouldn't surprise me if they held it against you for not liking their stuff. Not saying that is the case, because I don't know them, but it just wouldn't shock me if that happened to be the case. Generally, I would say people do hold feelings against others for not liking their content, which is really petty IMO.

The Bible speaks lots about vanity (Ecclesiastes is best for that) and it's place in the human heart and I think social media most definitely caters to people's vain desires. If your friends are professing Christians, then my best advice would be to lovingly confront them on their behavior and direct them towards a better path--one that helps keep their eyes on Christ instead of worldly things. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to be there for one another, to encourage each other in our faith. That's why fellowship is so incredibly important. And sometimes, people are going through their own personal stuff or may even be struggling with their faith internally. That's why your best bet would be to talk to them, let them know you're there even if they need an open ear or a shoulder to lean on. If they reject you and leave you, then it's probably for the better anyway. Just keep them in your prayers that they choose to walk the straight and narrow path all the days of their lives.

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun. Ecclesiastes 2:11

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2

Edit: Sorry, I just noticed how you mentioned you're going through a difficult time, thus don't really have the time to talk with them much. If you need any further advice, I'm all ears. In the meantime, I'll be praying for you. :prayer:


Good thing you know Ecclesiastes. Many Christians aren't even aware that verse exists, only knowing Proverbs.

It's really no big deal for me losing friends. I'm simply intrigued.

I did notice facebook activity is mostly vanity, pride, arrogance.

It didn't bother me at first. In fact, I didn't give any thought to it. But I think my heart and mind changed along the way and now, it bothers me. Perhaps, at the time, I finally decided to meditate on God's Words and my mind was opened and began seeing bad things people do.
 
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tryphena rose

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Good thing you know Ecclesiastes. Many Christians aren't even aware that verse exists, only knowing Proverbs.

It's really no big deal for me losing friends. I'm simply intrigued.

I did notice facebook activity is mostly vanity, pride, arrogance.

It didn't bother me at first. In fact, I didn't give any thought to it. But I think my heart and mind changed along the way and now, it bothers me. Perhaps, at the time, I finally decided to meditate on God's Words and my mind was opened and began seeing bad things people do.
I'm actually a former atheist and my fiance, who helped lead me to Christ, suggested that I began the Bible with Ecclesiastes since I had so heavily believed that everything was meaningless. I found a lot of profound wisdom lying in those pages and it made me realize my view of the Bible was filled with a bunch of pre-conceived notions and misconceptions based off of what others had said throughout my life. I particularly loved how in chapter 11 verses 7-8 it says: Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

It truly is a shame, as I've too found that many Christians stray away from Ecclesiastes because they deem it being too "depressing". I find it to be amazing how the preacher comes to the conclusion that unless one has God in his life, all will be meaningless. Only God prescribes meaning and fills us with life. Romans 6:23

Well that's wonderful news then! Go wherever the Spirit leads you brother. God's Word will be forever but even social media and all the work people put into making there lives seem perfect, will too pass away in the end. When the Glory of the Lord is revealed, then will those in the world realize how such toil was meaningless. It's why God must always be the very first thing we seek in the morning. :clap:
 
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I love FB! It is a great way to keep in touch with high school, college and grad school friends. I am in touch with many people I hadn’t heard from in years. Also a great way to keep in touch with former students. You just have to understand it’s limitations, what it is good for and what it is not good for.
 
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