This is my experience. I live on the outskirts of my very large city. Most people are near the core, or live in the exact opposite direction of me on the other

This is my experience. I live on the outskirts of my very large city. Most people are near the core, or live in the exact opposite direction of me on the other side of the city because it's cheaper there. I don't have classes with my friends, who go to other universities or are in different programs. If I didn't have a social media platform I would literally never talk to these people. But, instead of using Facebook to "share my life", I post articles and discussions I find interesting or relevant, which sparks healthier discussion on the platform. Most of my time on Facebook is spent catching up with still-good friends in messenger. I also keep my friend count low-- I have around 50 people on Facebook, all of whom I have spent a significant amount of time with in the past, all of whom I enjoy as people. I think it's all about how the platform is used. Yes, it's designed to be addictive, but the less friends you have added, the less notifications you will receive daily. If one doesn't post many personal details, or does not document their life on their timeline, one can avoid most of the data-grabbing. I have two photos of me showing my face. I close the Facebook tab when not in use, and check it once a day. If no one has messaged me I close the tab again. I don't check Facebook on my phone. As a sidenote, having HN as a source for "distraction" has helped me significantly. I check this site in the morning and learn something new everyday. But it doesn't feel like "work", it feels like a "break", similar to the feeling Facebook once gave me but without the guilt.