I write a lot. I read a lot. I play tennis a lot.

I used to spend a good bit of time on Facebook, conversing and mining memes and ideas. I eliminated Facebook a few days ago and I can tell you this: I miss it, but more like missing the ache of a rotting tooth. Next on my list, is television.

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How Bad Is Facebook?

If you spend any time on Facebook there are two very obvious facts: 1. it’s not about updates from your friends; 2. 98% of all the content is curated for you by Facebook for paying customers. You are the product on Facebook. And your friends, are the added bonus.

Facebook is going to show you about 2% of the content your friends create. The ones you have liked or shared posts with are going to rank higher in your list. So, for example, of my 250+ friends, I’m going to see about 10 or 15 friend updates. That’s it. And once Facebook grooves your algorithm, you’re going to see the same 10 friends all the time. And then 95% ads and paid content ads (known as native ads).

I happen to have spent a lot of time building up an audience on Facebook for my two blogs and my band. Combined I have about 5,000 followers. 5 years ago, my reach on those 5,000 contacts over the course of the week would be about 500 or 10%. This is called organic reach. I don’t pay to reach my subscribers. I post a lot and they get a small percentage of my content. Those were the good ‘le days. Today, with a slightly larger group of subscribers, I get a reach of about 0.05%. Or a reach of 25 people. Why am I doing this again?

Killing Facebook for 30 Days

I’m no longer posting or responding on Facebook through Sept. 4th. (I’m not sure I’m ever going to turn it back on, honestly.) I’ve removed the app from my phone and my browser shortcuts. And I still have the habit of wanting to “check in” on Facebook. I stop myself. And then I do something more productive. Read. Write. Go for a walk.

Just as Musk murdered Twitter I also abandoned my 50,000 followers on that platform. X is dumb. And we’re going to watch the crushing of one of the three big social media platforms.

Okay, so I’m pausing on Facebook, I’m off Twitter/X, and now comes the third network, LinkedIn. Again, Microsoft bought them a number of years ago and began squeezing for dollars. Today, LinkedIn is not much more than a job-hunting and recruiting site. Yes, we all need to maintain our LinkedIn profiles and keep our resumes up to date, even if we’re not looking, but for all *social* aspects LinkedIn is also done.

Sure, there’s TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, and all the Twitter replacement apps, but none that I care about. Social media today has become un-social digital marketing. I’m happy to add another 100 subscribers to my Facebook group, but the net result is one more view of my work per month. Actually, social, organic reach social, is done. They’ve sucked all the dollars out of the platforms and effectively killed the social aspect.

The Poison of Television

The news today is all about politics, the death of our planet, the collapse of human decency, and whole host of entertainment topics I don’t care much about. I don’t care about Barbiegeddon. I really don’t care about reality stars and influencers in the news. What I learned after 9-11 was that visual news, particularly video news, penetrated my mind in a way that was hard to let go of. You how when you’re watching a show of really bad actors (Breaking Bad, Succession, Shameless), and it feels fun and exciting for a while. Later, you notice you’re still thinking about the toxic elements of the show days later. The angry, cynical, violent, and popular media is warping your mental chemistry.

It’s like porn, the more you watch it the more you want to watch it. You might be interested in trying something you otherwise would’ve never thought of. TV is like porn. There’s a lot less sex, but the images and the information are designed and produced, to cause a reaction. Sometimes that influence is to get you to watch the next episode. For streaming services, it’s to get you to keep paying for the content. For advertisers, your eyeballs are good places for electronic billboards. The ratio of the show to commercial on live tv is horrific.

Then you’ve got the Pharma porn ads. These too are like porn. You didn’t even know you had a symptom, but now that they’ve mentioned it, you do feel a little more run-down than usual. Maybe this new anti-depressant can put you’re life back in order. Pharma is generating happy and misleading ads, covered in tiny disclaimer text that tells the truth, to convince you to “ask your doctor about Bullshittery, the new drug that will help you believe the lies you tell.

TV is a time suck. Even good quality shows are a time suck. If you’re a screenwriter, or aspiring screenwriter, good luck. Perhaps there is a good case for the amount of TV you watch. But, for most of us, TV in all its forms (news, reality shows, pharma porn ads, game shows, streaming series, movies, documentaries) is a form of distraction. Entertainment, yes, but a distraction as well.

Alcohol and Entertainment

I think people drink in the evening to forget. To disconnect from the sad or angry emotions in their lives. Regrets? Have a margarita. Missing your kids? A couple of glasses of wine should mellow things out a bit. Alcohol is often used to numb the pain. TV is the same thing.

I’m all for a good movie on a Friday, Saturday, and maybe Sunday night. I love watching Tennis and F1 racing. And Longhorn Football is about to start up and I’ll probably go to three or four game parties. But, I have been watching too much TV.

I think the news about Trump and the political maelstrom we are all living through is addictive. I want to turn on MSNBC at 5 each afternoon to see what’s going on. I like Ari, Rachel, and the rest of the anchors. I’ve been skipping my news binge over the last few days as well. I tap the NYTimes website for current updates.

On the NYTimes website, I can control my consumption of media. There are photos. But I don’t need to watch DeSantis make another dumb bumbling apology. I don’t need to hear from Trump’s lawyers about their rebuttals. I don’t need TV news. I like it. I have been in the habit of turning on Ari at 5 and having a snack. Popcorn and a bit of political news.

Yesterday, I turned off Ari after about 15 minutes. The same guests talking the same smack about the thrice indicted ex-president. Yep, seen all of that I need to see. I don’t need to hear another soundbite incriminating Trump. I don’t need to hear one more word of his rallies, today, where he’s still admitting his wrongdoing. On that front, I need to see Trump in shackles heading for the rock-breaking camp in the desert.

What Would You Do With An Extra Hour?

We are all busy. Most of us claim to be too busy. Too busy to do the things we’d really like to be doing. Too busy to call a friend for no reason. Too busy to take a walk.

It’s the stuff we’re busy with that is the issue. Work? Yes, most of us require employment to make our world function. Play? Are we doing enough playing? Rest? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you notice the nights when you get less sleep and how it affects your mood and performance the next day? I do. My little Apple Watch has been tracking my DEEP SLEEP results for a couple of years. I can tell when I didn’t sleep well. My app shows me, 0.30 hrs of deep sleep. Not enough. Ah, cause and effect.

If you had more time in your day, what would you do with it? Would you learn to play piano? Would you write a book? Learn to play pickleball? Spend more time with your kids or grandkids?

The freedom of time is something afforded and squandered by the rich. We don’t need more money to have more freedom. We just need to be more aware of where and how we are spending our time.

An hour of TV or an hour reading a good novel. They are not equal. TV is a drug meant to make you feel a certain way. A book is something you have more control over. And if it’s well written, can be much more engaging than the latest series from HBO.

Go Outside, Play, Sleep

I’m pretty early on my journey of media austerity. I can tell you, I’m not missing my Facebook friends at all. There is very little connection in social media friendships. Let’s grab a cup of coffee. Oh, you’re too busy? Doing what?

Ask yourself this question: “Do I need to do this now? Is it moving me toward my goals?” You can make a better-informed decision about watching the news or a show if you just pause and orient toward your long-range goals. Or short-term goals. I don’t think TV facilitates your progress unless you are a screenwriter.

Go outside. Take off your shoes and walk on the grass and dirt. It’s good for your brain, your body, and your soul. (Look it up.)

Relearn to play more.

And sleep…

Sleep is the new drug. Get enough of it and everything in your life improves. Push yourself with caffeine, Adderall, nicotine, or any myriad of substances you’re diminishing your ability to heal, be happy, and find optimism. You can find the time. You can start a new creative project. But, you’ve got to make some decisions about how you are spending your time.

What are you doing with this most wonderful life you have been given?

John McElhenney — let’s connect online
Facebook & LinkedIn & The Whole Parent

See also:

• Whatever You *Think* of Elon Musk, You Probably Think Teslas Rock
• Hacking Uber.la / How Are They Still Getting In?
• Here’s a Trick to Stump the AI Chump of ChatGPT

Please check out a few of my books on AMAZON.