How Much of Your Facebook Feed is Information You Need?

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Last week, we read a great post about why one person quit Facebook and walked away, and now I bring you an entirely different set of reasons why another person left the social networking site.

Do the exercise Just a Little Off Kilter did -- look at your Facebook stream right now and see how much information you need to know. Information that better helps you understand the other person. Are you learning things you sort of wish you didn't know?

Did I really need to see 184 photos of "Fran’s Dirty 30 Party," filled with enough drunken divas to last a lifetime? Or did I really want to know that you “just cleaned the grout in the shower and now its time for a sleepy sleep!" Or that you’re “burning the steaks on the BBQ!" Perhaps they wouldn't be burning if you were actually in front of the barbecue, instead of telling your Facebook friends about it? Or do I really need to know that you “just ate a hot dog and a diet coke for lunch.” I came to realize that no, I don’t need to know any of those things.

I weighed out my Facebook feed and decided I couldn't live without it; that I've learned too much over the years that I've needed to know in addition to -- yes -- the "Fran's Dirty 30" pictures. (Okay, so my person has a different name from Fran, but most likely similar shots.) I'm keeping my Facebook feed.

Does your Facebook feed pass the test? How much of your feed is information you need to know?

Photo Credit: Shot Glasses via Shuttershock.

Read more from Why I Did It at Just a Little Off Kilter

SabrinaBlogs 28 pts

Games and horoscopes are currently bullying my feed. If there's anything I need, I'm sure I get frustrated and log off before I get to it.

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biggirlblue 5 pts

If it is information I need? No, but part of the friend relationship is putting up with people's habits and seeing how the other half lives. And it is a feed, we click on the things we want to know more of and skip the rest. No?

What I don't like is a system telling me what people and activity would interest me on any given day which is what another article I read recently implied Facebook is doing.

I don't think social networking is for everyone so I imagine the turnover rate is quite high of those who don't care what others are doing. I like to see the humor in it -- and there is huge camaraderie there when you do burn the chicken.

Conversation from Facebook

Robin Follette

Facebook is what you chose to make of it. It's only complicated or inconvenient if you've made it that way.

Darlene Pineda

So take some control over what information you get. Crikey, people act like if isn't perfect it isn't worth it. How silly and immature.

Lynn Bonelli

It seems to me that "quitting facebook" is the new thing...kind of like an invisible slap in the face to those people who use and enjoy what FB has to offer. It's the new veganism...(you know, holier than thou), IMO. Reading both posts I also asked myself, If people want to quit FB because of the privacy issues or shallow friendships and non-informational posts then WHY are they posting about it? Just quit and enjoy your decision to NOT be FB glutton in all of it's glory. I also have to ask if one feels this way about FB then why keep blogging about what you ate Wednesday or wore Friday or how you can make oatmeal 25 different ways? There are many ways to connect with people and whether I read about my nephews 5th place victory in the Spelling Bee or my sister tells me over the phone even THAT doesn't enhance or change my life, but I love that little guy regardless. Life is made up of so many things...big and little, earth-shattering and mundane. If everything we did or experienced or opened ourselves up to had to pass some sort of litmus test to see if it's worthy of our time we'd all be lonely. Sometimes life isn't fireworks and critiques of Walden...but it's beautiful even when it's simple. P.S. you don't HAVE to look at all 145 pictures...I've gotten pretty good at 'scanning' through my FB stream.

Cheryl Tomaselli Baden

I think this all or nothing attitude is partly what is wrong with our country now, to lazy to defriend , I will just quit. Really?

Karen Klasi Wentlandt

I honestly gave quitting some thought. I've been on hold (for various reasons) for 45 minutes today, and FB (and honestly, the chance to nurture some long-distance relationships) has been the perfect way to spend this otherwise wasted time!