My name is Wendy and I am addicted to Facebook.
I will be among the last to dump it because of the latest news that they are sharing personal information.
I guess I just assumed that was always the case, anyway.
From what I am gleaning from the latest scandal the world is going to hell in a handbasket because I needed to know what kind of potato chip I am (salt and vinegar), what my spirit animal is (sloth) or which person will always have my back (my sister).
Everytime, I took a quiz Facebook gathered information on me and what I like and don't like. I figured nobody cared that I like cats and big jewellery. I certainly didn't think the Russians gave me a second thought.
If I understand it (and I don't) Cambridge Analytica got access to the private information of 50 million American users and then targeted political advertising toward them. This may or may not have lead to Donald Trump's election win.
They got it by mining the information shared in one of those "personality quizzes" we do while putting in time. From that they built psychological profiles and then t pro-Trump/ anti-Hillary news to those people's feeds.
Granted, Mark Zuckerberg didn't seem all that choked up about the security breach when he commented on it, last week, when he kinda/sorta promised to make it right but with no specifics.
However, my thinking is I don't think any targeting marketing or messaging could make me vote for someone I didn't want to. I guess,maybe, if you're on the fence but shouldn't you do your own research on platforms and personality? Is everyone so easily swayed?
Bottom line — I am very dependent on Facebook.
I am probably on it dozens of times a day. I just like checking in on what friends are doing. I am nosy. I love instant messaging where I can just drop a quick line to dozens of people without wasting time on the phone. I can't imagine how much my social life would suffer without it.
It allows my sister and I to chat every day and be engaged in each others life though we live hours apart.
Same with friends. I would never know how everyone was doing or where they are vacationing or what they are eating without it. I would actually miss that!
You can learn so much from people through their status' lines. For better or worse, it is enlightening.
Other benefits include picture sharing. I just love seeing everyone's family pictures and trip photos. Okay, maybe I don't need to see EVERY single picture but generally speaking its a way to bring us all together.
My Facebook friends are my real friends. It makes this world a smaller and warmer place. I am thrilled to think I have friends all around the world and can be in contact with a click of a button.
I have found old school chums, met people with the same likes and hobbies as myself, and reconnected with extended family members I rarely get to see.
While some say it has taken the place of meeting and greeting, in person, I have found it to be just the opposite. It shouldn't be your only social outlet but I have found it has expanded my circle. There's just no other way to stay connected with so many so simply.
Not to mention the great advice you can get. Good recipes. What plants are poison for your pet. Helpful ideas for cleaning the bathtub.
The encouragement I have gotten from FB friends when I have reached out in times of trouble has been invaluable..
Some people say they are ditching it. #DeleteFacebook is trending.
I say "Facebook — I can't quit you".
Will I be more careful on what I am clicking? Yes. Will I delete? Nope. I am still clicking "Like".
