Three years ago, I deleted a 500,000 follower Facebook Page. I cried writing my farewell post. I literally sat in front of my keyboard and cried while typing. Hundreds of videos, posts, live streams, and more were about to get deleted. Why? Damn. There’s a lot of reasons.
What we know of Facebook's algorithms suggests it's probably not a good vehicle for changing people's minds because the algorithms keep feeding people more of the same, thus reinforcing whatever their opinions were in the first place. A dissenting voice might be visible but would be quickly drowned out by the bulk of contrary material being delivered. One can conceivably find and motivate like-minded people, but changing people's minds? The system isn't built for that. I suspect most social media isn't. I confess that I've kept my author page (which has "only" 55,000 followers), but I generally stay away from the political, my goal being to ultimately convert followers into fans that might buy my books. I support political causes by talking to people I know and contributing to causes in which I believe. You're certainly right about FB not being a good vehicle for changing political opinions.
Good post, although I’ve never understood why people claim people won’t change their mind on social media. I have done so many times because of facts someone shared.
In my role as a social media influencer, I’ve had to operate with a smaller audience and fix privacy settings. This has been mostly a part time job in maintaining various social media platforms.
I’m currently writing on topics to reform our digital habits by changing our mindset and reforming our digital health. Feeling too like I’m shouting into the wind. Especially as I use social media to complain about social media💨
The story of your massive wiping out of a whole huge social media following of yours has struck me as being about something even bigger: the ability to be wise enough, at various points in our lives, to put old things behind us and pivot to something new. The fact is, that UNLESS you throw away the old, you'll be hampered in getting to the new. At every turn in my life, I've struggled with the unwillingness to do that. Each time I have, it's been wrenching, but in the end, liberating.
1. Opened this because subject looked intriguing (and because I tend to open anything you post).
2. Understood that your travails justified your closing the page.
3. Agreed with the "can't change any minds" notion.
4. Trying to decide, for some time now, whether to post my (important and correct, of course) opinions. Having posted a lot of entertaining (I hope) but innocuous stuff, I now must evaluate the duty to weigh in against the futility and the aggravation. Your tale is pushing me, sadly, in the direction of keeping silent. "Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut"--Will Rogers.
I understand the emotion in saying goodbye to a large social media identity. But not half a million. My travel blog group had just over 6000 when I sold the trade name and socials. It cut like a knife writing my goodbye post, too! It was the end of an era for me.
Hi Tom! I'm a Filipino. I'm sorry my countrymen treated you badly. Doc Adam, an Australian doctor who made a YouTube channel to bring a change on Filipinos' approach to health (which is still anchored on folk medicine), was also bashed. The Filipina quack doctor he debunked filed a lawsuit against him, and it cost Doc Adam so much money. I'm saying this because the antiintellectualism in the Philippines runs so deep it's hard to uproot even when confronted with truth and facts. I tried to love my country. I served 8 years as a public high school teacher in my country, I realized I can't make a change. Even the education system is corrupt. I moved on and moved out. Best decision ever. Philippines will always be the sick man of Asia.
Facebook and Zuck have become increasingly evil in recent years. To watch Zuck dismiss enabling pedophiles while squashing freedom of speech on political topics find any video of his multiple appearances before US Congress. I left all Meta that I had Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger and suddenly the spying ads from Google and other browsers are actually more aligned with who I am and not with Zuck's plan for me. Substack is producing a higher quality of interaction overall and I hope we can keep it that way.
Love this: "I’ll stick to writing, and fill my day with butterflies, rainbows, and whiskers on kittens." Thaniks for trying on social media ... I hate to think you're right, but fear you are.
The biggest problem with politics is that it’s heavily related to age and personality. Debate is also the art of winning an argument. So it’s almost inevitable to end up in a conflict.
Sprinkle on top of that a lack of data while discussing policies and we have a recipe for explosive emotions completely based on opinions and not rooted in reality.
I was very interested in learning different ideologies on the right and the left a couple of years ago. But I eventually stopped because those discussions usually barely move the needle or bring change.
From my observations, either business or working on policies that would be implemented bring some action.
So sorry to hear you had to go through this and I hope it didn’t affect you too much for too long.
What we know of Facebook's algorithms suggests it's probably not a good vehicle for changing people's minds because the algorithms keep feeding people more of the same, thus reinforcing whatever their opinions were in the first place. A dissenting voice might be visible but would be quickly drowned out by the bulk of contrary material being delivered. One can conceivably find and motivate like-minded people, but changing people's minds? The system isn't built for that. I suspect most social media isn't. I confess that I've kept my author page (which has "only" 55,000 followers), but I generally stay away from the political, my goal being to ultimately convert followers into fans that might buy my books. I support political causes by talking to people I know and contributing to causes in which I believe. You're certainly right about FB not being a good vehicle for changing political opinions.
Good post, although I’ve never understood why people claim people won’t change their mind on social media. I have done so many times because of facts someone shared.
In my role as a social media influencer, I’ve had to operate with a smaller audience and fix privacy settings. This has been mostly a part time job in maintaining various social media platforms.
I’m currently writing on topics to reform our digital habits by changing our mindset and reforming our digital health. Feeling too like I’m shouting into the wind. Especially as I use social media to complain about social media💨
The story of your massive wiping out of a whole huge social media following of yours has struck me as being about something even bigger: the ability to be wise enough, at various points in our lives, to put old things behind us and pivot to something new. The fact is, that UNLESS you throw away the old, you'll be hampered in getting to the new. At every turn in my life, I've struggled with the unwillingness to do that. Each time I have, it's been wrenching, but in the end, liberating.
Brave move. Thank you for sharing your journey
I have deleted my Facebook and Instagram accounts. It’s liberating!
1. Opened this because subject looked intriguing (and because I tend to open anything you post).
2. Understood that your travails justified your closing the page.
3. Agreed with the "can't change any minds" notion.
4. Trying to decide, for some time now, whether to post my (important and correct, of course) opinions. Having posted a lot of entertaining (I hope) but innocuous stuff, I now must evaluate the duty to weigh in against the futility and the aggravation. Your tale is pushing me, sadly, in the direction of keeping silent. "Never pass up an opportunity to keep your mouth shut"--Will Rogers.
I understand the emotion in saying goodbye to a large social media identity. But not half a million. My travel blog group had just over 6000 when I sold the trade name and socials. It cut like a knife writing my goodbye post, too! It was the end of an era for me.
Hi Tom! I'm a Filipino. I'm sorry my countrymen treated you badly. Doc Adam, an Australian doctor who made a YouTube channel to bring a change on Filipinos' approach to health (which is still anchored on folk medicine), was also bashed. The Filipina quack doctor he debunked filed a lawsuit against him, and it cost Doc Adam so much money. I'm saying this because the antiintellectualism in the Philippines runs so deep it's hard to uproot even when confronted with truth and facts. I tried to love my country. I served 8 years as a public high school teacher in my country, I realized I can't make a change. Even the education system is corrupt. I moved on and moved out. Best decision ever. Philippines will always be the sick man of Asia.
Facebook and Zuck have become increasingly evil in recent years. To watch Zuck dismiss enabling pedophiles while squashing freedom of speech on political topics find any video of his multiple appearances before US Congress. I left all Meta that I had Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger and suddenly the spying ads from Google and other browsers are actually more aligned with who I am and not with Zuck's plan for me. Substack is producing a higher quality of interaction overall and I hope we can keep it that way.
Love this: "I’ll stick to writing, and fill my day with butterflies, rainbows, and whiskers on kittens." Thaniks for trying on social media ... I hate to think you're right, but fear you are.
I feel you. Such a big amount of negative comments, has for sure a bad influence on your sleep. Stay healthy and enjoy life. Greeting from Vienna
You probably did the right thing. People come on there to argue because they're right and you're wrong. Well done for stepping away.
The biggest problem with politics is that it’s heavily related to age and personality. Debate is also the art of winning an argument. So it’s almost inevitable to end up in a conflict.
Sprinkle on top of that a lack of data while discussing policies and we have a recipe for explosive emotions completely based on opinions and not rooted in reality.
I was very interested in learning different ideologies on the right and the left a couple of years ago. But I eventually stopped because those discussions usually barely move the needle or bring change.
From my observations, either business or working on policies that would be implemented bring some action.
So sorry to hear you had to go through this and I hope it didn’t affect you too much for too long.