And yet, I am still not a part of this massive online community. When I tell people this it usually leaves a baffled look on their face, but it is true. However, I do have my reasons of how Facebook can be more detrimental than beneficial.
The most important reason I don't have a Facebook today is because it is a distraction. High school is a time where you need to be focused, to learn and earn good grades for a successful future. However, the last thing one needs is a distraction to harm their academic success. Many people "stalk" their crushes and enemies, and this leads to massive time consumption and energy waste. I for one already have enough distractions as it is, and can't afford to add another.
Another reason I don't have a Facebook is because of privacy and security hazard. Facebook allows strangers to see private information, such as favorite movies, actors, your locations (Facebook Places), etc. Although one can enable privacy settings, a good portion of personal information about them would be revealed to the public because to be honest, everyone has some strangers of their friends list. This kind of information can hurt one's chances of having a successful career, since almost all companies check one's Facebook before hiring. Facebook is also known for scam (such as fake accounts) and viruses, which can be acquired with a click of a button.
Facebook's impact on one's emotional state is a major factor in my reluctance to make a Facebook. I personally prefer to learn about someone in person, with genuine human connection, not by reading their profile and statuses. That can lead to one being anti-social, or socially-awkward. Facebook can also lead to states of sorrow or depression. For example, if one goes on Facebook and sees a picture of their crush with another guy/girl, they would be saddened, and would have been happier if they didn't check at all. Or if someone sees their friends going hiking and getting exercise it might make one feel worse about themselves. The possibilities are endless.
Although Facebook has some benefits, such as for educational or business purposes, the negatives easily out weigh the positives. However, the severity of the harms depend on the user as a whole. If one realizes the vices of Facebook, and properly adjust themselves and their uses of the social network, Facebook will not be as much of a threat than it is to most people today.
