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While I'm no longer a Facebook user myself, I do understand that deleting the two largest social networks from your life can seem daunting and detrimental. If

While I'm no longer a Facebook user myself, I do understand that deleting the two largest social networks from your life can seem daunting and detrimental. If you find deleting those accounts too drastic, I highly recommend simply deleting the apps, and moving to browser-only consumption and browsing those sites in private mode. It doesn't cut off your social networks, and if you want to check them, you'll have to login every time. Simply having to do that will naturally wean you off the networks, with the huge added benefit of not being tracked all the time!

Rjevski 8y ago
If you do this just make sure you don't have any of their apps left on your phone, this includes WhatsApp (in fact the only reason FB bought them is to use it as a backdoor against privacy-conscious people who might uninstall the main FB apps or deny them permissions like contacts/location).
- godelski 8y ago
  Funny thing. I had basically no problem deleting my facebook. Everyone I still actually wanted to keep in contact I have their numbers (and quite a few I moved to Signal). But some people are EXTREMELY persistent about WhatsApp. Only 2 people on Facebook told me that messanger was the "only" way to contact them. Of my friends that use WhatsApp 90% of them just won't move. Maybe things will change when Facebook actually starts monetizing the app.
  - Rjevski 8y ago
    > Maybe things will change when Facebook actually starts monetizing the app. I feel like Facebook is happy with the status quo, leaving WA ad-free in order to have a persistent backdoor in people’s lives so they can use it to “improve” ads on their other platforms. WA seems too valuable to burn with ads and stuff.
    - SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
      > WA seems too valuable to burn with ads and stuff. Burn? They keep cramming Facebook and Instagram with more and more ads and both of those platforms are still going from strength to strength.
    - godelski 8y ago
      From what I understand they lose money from WA. And isn't this why the original founders left? Because of how FB wanted to monetize it?
saderror256 8y ago
You can also use apps that are clients, like open source clients that access api's, well, if they exist
mediumdeviation 8y ago
Note that Facebook can still track you across any websites that embed Facebook content or use the Like button, and associate those information with your account. A good adblocker will remove them and make sites load faster.
- SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
  Or if you don't want to go the full-blown adblocking route for whatever reason Privacy Badger offers this functionality.
MisterTea 8y ago
I've done the same. I nuked my instagram account and removed the facebook app from my phone (never had twitter or snap chat). I only pop on facebook every now and then to check for messages from family members. Most of my friends have followed suit to various lenghts. The younger people at work have all moved on to snapchat and Instagram almost completely ignoring Facebook.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
weliketocode 8y ago
The nicotine-patch solution for social media addiction.

Rjevski 8y ago

If you do this just make sure you don't have any of their apps left on your phone, this includes WhatsApp (in fact the only reason FB bought them is to use it as a backdoor against privacy-conscious people who might uninstall the main FB apps or deny them permissions like contacts/location).

godelski 8y ago
Funny thing. I had basically no problem deleting my facebook. Everyone I still actually wanted to keep in contact I have their numbers (and quite a few I moved to Signal). But some people are EXTREMELY persistent about WhatsApp. Only 2 people on Facebook told me that messanger was the "only" way to contact them. Of my friends that use WhatsApp 90% of them just won't move. Maybe things will change when Facebook actually starts monetizing the app.
- Rjevski 8y ago
  > Maybe things will change when Facebook actually starts monetizing the app. I feel like Facebook is happy with the status quo, leaving WA ad-free in order to have a persistent backdoor in people’s lives so they can use it to “improve” ads on their other platforms. WA seems too valuable to burn with ads and stuff.
  - SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
    > WA seems too valuable to burn with ads and stuff. Burn? They keep cramming Facebook and Instagram with more and more ads and both of those platforms are still going from strength to strength.
  - godelski 8y ago
    From what I understand they lose money from WA. And isn't this why the original founders left? Because of how FB wanted to monetize it?

saderror256 8y ago

You can also use apps that are clients, like open source clients that access api's, well, if they exist

mediumdeviation 8y ago

Note that Facebook can still track you across any websites that embed Facebook content or use the Like button, and associate those information with your account. A good adblocker will remove them and make sites load faster.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
Or if you don't want to go the full-blown adblocking route for whatever reason Privacy Badger offers this functionality.

MisterTea 8y ago

I've done the same. I nuked my instagram account and removed the facebook app from my phone (never had twitter or snap chat). I only pop on facebook every now and then to check for messages from family members. Most of my friends have followed suit to various lenghts. The younger people at work have all moved on to snapchat and Instagram almost completely ignoring Facebook.

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

weliketocode 8y ago

The nicotine-patch solution for social media addiction.