A few years ago, I got rid of the Facebook app on my phone. I do still use the mobile web version. Although there were many reasons for this, the main one was it wasted a lot of time every day. Now, I may miss out on many things with friends or family, and some may feel I’m purposely ignoring them, though this is not the case. I enjoy connecting with friends and family who don’t live close by, but I find it’s better for time management if I limit my Facebook use to when I’m in front of the computer. (And yes, I see the irony of posting this on my Facebook page) Since making this decision, I’ve learned other reasons for keeping Facebook off my phone is a good idea.
Drains Battery
A recent report showed that the Facebook app is one of the biggest drains on cell phone batteries. Yes, you can change settings to turn off aspects like video auto-play that drain the battery even more, but the app is so feature-rich that every time you open it, there’s a massive drain on your cell battery.
It’s Not Reality
Think about what you’re posting. How much of your true life are you actually sharing? Most people only post about significant events (good or bad) or smaller daily updates that present their life in a particular light. Given that, chances are those updates you’re so intent on commenting and responding to aren’t the whole story. Is it worth your time to be so focused on snippets of a person’s life?
Keeps You from Enjoying Life
This connects to the fact that posts aren’t a full reality. The more time you spend focusing on others’ lives, the less time you’re spending getting out living yours to the fullest. A recent study showed that Facebook use was linked to a decrease in mental health. Researchers found a connection between consistent Facebook use and a self-reported reduction in overall life satisfaction, physical health, and mental health.
If you want to get more out of life, get more done, and feel more fulfilled and happy every day, I suggest you take the leap and delete the Facebook app as I did. You can still check in from the computer, but you’ll be less focused on the distractions and enjoy your life more.
