Tech Leaders Turning on Facebook

All these previous supporters of Facebook are now dismayed by the effect Facebook is having on the world. I have no idea why they are surprised. Facebook has always appealed to the small version of ourselves. You know? Everyone has the big version of themselves and the small version. The small version is petty, envious, status-obsessed, the stalker who constantly looks at others to compare. There's also the bigger version - the one that sacrifices and lives for others, the one that strives to create something - art, life, a business, the one who does his or her duty. Facebook has always been about the smaller version of ourselves - how to "show off" how good your life is to others you don't even know that well. The one that wants to see how others are doing as a way to measure their own self worth.

So sure, now Facebook is selling private data and I suppose that's worse than not selling it. It's been taken over by careerists. Big deal, no surprise. But I'd argue it was bad at the outset and the only selling point has always been: everyone's on it. Everyone's obsessed with the small things. But I knew that before Facebook and the fact that Facebook multiplies that effect -- I don't ever see why anyone saw this as a good impact on the world.

People argue: it's great for getting it touch with people who you lost touch with. Really? Ever heard of picking up a phone? Writing an email? A letter. An in person fucking visit? These things are so hard? You got out of touch because you didn't make the time, not because you didn't have a social media platform.

Lean out.