As a long-time Facebook user, I have witnessed numerous controversies and questionable practices from the company, from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to the recent changes on Instagram that have been detrimental to creators. Despite all of this, I have remained a user on the platform. However, the latest updates to the algorithms have made it nearly unbearable for me to use.
The constant influx of “recommended posts” from pages and accounts I do not follow is extremely frustrating, and once I accidentally engage with one of these posts, it seems to be recommended to me endlessly. It feels as though Facebook is like an annoying child, constantly shoving content down my throat that I have no interest in. I have therefore decided to deactivate my account and see where it takes me.
It is worth noting that Facebook remains the dominant social media platform in my country, and many of the communities and groups I am interested in are only present on the site. This may ultimately bring me back, but for now, I am taking a break and unfollowing everything else.