In my experience, almost all the value of Facebook (like >99%) flows from Facebook groups & Facebook messenger (edit: also Facebook event invites, occasionally). Blocking the newsfeed helps me focus on the parts of Facebook that actually add value.
(More conspiratorially, the newsfeed is where Facebook deploys a lot of its mind-hacking techniques, and I really don’t like the notion of having my mind / attention hacked. This is basically an aesthetic preference.)
Also, Twitter does a much better job at the “newsfeed” thing, and Twitter’s feed is much easier to curate & generally less mind-hacky.
As a data point, I disagree with almost all of the above (agree that Facebook is mind-hacky, but don’t care). Therefore I’m not planning to block my newsfeed.
I think everything is mind-hacky. Facebook doesn’t seem better at it than my primary school curriculum or social group. I know it’s for corporate interests, but everyone tries to influence you for their own interests. I don’t really see how this is special—I think as long as I’m benefiting and Facebook is benefiting, it’s no one else’s business.
PSA: everyone reading this who also uses Facebook should absolutely install a newsfeed blocker.
FB Purity is excellent: https://www.fbpurity.com/
Regardless of your opinions about Facebook, using a newsfeed blocker will absolutely make your Facebook experience better.
Why? Why would not having a thing I enjoy be better than having it?
In my experience, almost all the value of Facebook (like >99%) flows from Facebook groups & Facebook messenger (edit: also Facebook event invites, occasionally). Blocking the newsfeed helps me focus on the parts of Facebook that actually add value.
(More conspiratorially, the newsfeed is where Facebook deploys a lot of its mind-hacking techniques, and I really don’t like the notion of having my mind / attention hacked. This is basically an aesthetic preference.)
Also, Twitter does a much better job at the “newsfeed” thing, and Twitter’s feed is much easier to curate & generally less mind-hacky.
As a data point, I disagree with almost all of the above (agree that Facebook is mind-hacky, but don’t care). Therefore I’m not planning to block my newsfeed.
Interesting. Why don’t you care that Facebook is mind-hacky?
I think everything is mind-hacky. Facebook doesn’t seem better at it than my primary school curriculum or social group. I know it’s for corporate interests, but everyone tries to influence you for their own interests. I don’t really see how this is special—I think as long as I’m benefiting and Facebook is benefiting, it’s no one else’s business.