I'm not on Facebook. Anyone else not? And why?

We never have been on Facebook and never will be. You are so right about the way people ask that question, it's like they take it personally that we aren't on it. We'd rather see family and friends in person or talk over the phone. Facebook is like an invasion of privacy and God knows there's enough of that in the world.

I have been on Facebook for longer than I even know, and consequently, I can totally understand why people don't want to be there. I moved there when a professional forum got vindictive, along with many colleagues who were likewise fed up. So for me, I have professional family there, and we've learned how to use the settings to prevent ugly ranting posts from showing up in our feeds, and block problem strangers.  I appreciate continuing close connection there.\

I really do understand those who don't want it in their lives. Nothing wrong with that. 😉

I resisted Facebook completely for a long time because of my concerns about privacy issues. But a few years ago, I finally decided to create an account to promote something I was working on, using a pseudonym — which evidently is against the rules. (Shh, don't tell Zuckerberg!) After dipping my toe in there that way, I realized it wasn't for me and was glad I didn't use my real name. 

I joined "Nextdoor" about seven years ago when there was very few people in my neighborhood on it. I reluctantly used my real name and address, per their requirement. Nextdoor initially seemed very serious about vetting new members — making sure they were actual residents of the neighborhoods they claimed to live in, so I didn't see any way around it even if I wanted to use an alias. Eventually, as more and more people around here joined Nextdoor, I saw posts from obviously phony names. And, shortly after that, the same bad behavior that seems to occur on almost all social media platforms seemed to follow. I don't dare post any neighborhood issues on Nextdoor anymore because of the way the mob dog-piles on everyone.

So far, my experience here on AARP's Community section has been the exception to the rule regarding what I've experienced on most other forms of social media (if this can be defined as such), and I hope this continues.

Hi, Christine!

Great post! Thank you for this topic!

I am on FB and have been for a while; I joined tagging along with my then twenty-something daughters... I haven't been "active" there for so long, partially due to unsolicited messages; I check in with the daughters' accounts just to see if I miss a grandchild's pic 😉

That being said, I was an early adopter (charter member #18) of myspace; I miss that very much; seemed to be more interest driven and not as open to commercial users, and abusers.

I think had Mark et al (Eduardo, Andrew, Dustin, Chris) kept it specific to college students, then grown other projects, it would be an entirely different thing now; to me it's as if FB soul was sold...

mho

#StaySafe

I was on Facebook to connect with friends and relatives, then started playing games there. No longer on the site, for many reasons, the main one being messages that were well unsolicited. I also am not on hangouts or any other messaging service except messenger and message (the one that comes with the cell phone. My daughters also aren't on Facebook, they call it Fakebook

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@Rhymesometimes use to. Left it several times and finally walked away when I retired. As I age, I have no interest in online drama. Great post 🙂

I've been on Facebook for several years.  I have family all over the United States and across the globe.  It's a great way for all of us to keep in touch and share special moments in our lives through pictures. 

I was hacked on my Facebook page ; the person who hacked me is trying to get money for cars ; the individual scam a family member of mine for 800 dollars for a car and some how got my address ; sending people to my house to buy a car I do not have for sale ; I can no longer get on my page but the hacker is and Facebook isn’t doing anything about it