When you joined Steemit, you became a member of a community. A community based in trust, where the actual content creators are compensated. In many ways, Steemit and Facebook are similar. They both give you a platform where you can use your voice to reconnect, educate, and interact with others.
Oftentimes it is forgotten that Facebook is a business, and it is in the business of making money from their assets. Their asset is your data.
While on the surface the two platforms may seem similar, there are 3 main differences:
1. On Facebook, You Are the Product
Ah, let’s rewind back to 2004 when Facebook was first launched. You’ve got Mark, who took the internet by storm with his arrogant behavior and complete lack of disdain for privacy. But let’s get one thing straight, you are the product of Facebook, not the customer. It didn’t take long for Mark to sell out to the boys and girls on Wall Street back in 2012 and they haven't given a shit since. Money does talk, after all.
Facebook does a great job of marketing their platform in a way that makes you feel like A.) you are a part of something and B.) you are using their service. Yes, you are using their service, and in the fine print of the Terms and Conditions - you give them full access to ALL of your content.
Here’s the worst part, they sell your content and data you create for their profit.
If you take a step back and think to yourself “how does Facebook make money?” you will come to realize that Facebook sells us to advertisers. (1)
Not to mention the privacy concerns that have beguiled Facebook for years. Here’s a little video of Mark getting flustered when asked about increasing privacy concerns towards Facebook.
Does this look like somebody who is telling the truth about our privacy?
2. Facebook Destroys Mental Health
Social media is a drug, and Facebook is the largest social media company in the world.(2)
Social media is:
- Addictive- there’s no doubt about this one. Checking social media is the first thing many people do as soon as they wake up in the morning. People are addicted to the little bit of dopamine we receive each time we get a message, notification, or much worse.. Alerts.
- Triggers Sadness- A 2013 study in France showed that Facebook usage declines people’s sense of well-being. “The more people used Facebook, the worse they felt over time.” (3) Facebook makes us sad because it essentially robs us of true communication. Just because you can “instantly connect” with someone does not mean you are actually connecting with that person.
- Escapism - This one seems to be obvious, but continues to cripple our sense of self worth and presence with the real world. When we constantly compare and judge ourselves to others, we are comparing our sense of self worth to others. Not healthy :(
Take a listen from a former Facebook Executive: “Social Media is Ripping Apart Society”
As rates of depression and anxiety continue to rise, we are spending more and more time on social media.
"According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 40 million Americans over the age of 18 are affected by anxiety — roughly 18 percent of the nation’s population." (4)
And don't worry, Facebook also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, so they've got every social media demographic down. Teenagers, global citizens, you name it - your data is vulnerable.
3. Turning Each Other Against Ourselves
Facebook plays into our greatest fears. What was once hailed as a way of connecting people, it has done the exact opposite.
After the 2016 President Election, there can't be any denial in the fact that social media played an integral role in doing one thing: creating confusion.(5)
On Facebook, because any one can publish or advertise, we don't know what's true and what's not. The only thing that is true, is that the pockets of Facebook keep getting deeper. They could care less what advertisers promote, all they care is about money. Oh.. but now because they are getting some public backlash, they are "taking steps to improve their privacy."
A simple bait and switch. And you watch, they'll do it again. Any time the social media mogul gets into some trouble, they immediately proclaim innocence and "start working on solutions."
Some Facebook users and groups exacerbate racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and much more. We are emotional creatures by nature, and when we believe something is right, we do our best to defend it. I've seen pointless conversations and dialogues between bots, yes you heard me bots, and personal friends and family.
Call to Action:
Not all social media platforms are bad. I simply believe that only the one's that promote transparency and fairness should be used - much like Steemit :). So do yourself a favor, and deactivate Facebook.
As fellow Steemian's, be the change you wish to see - start converting your friends and family to Steemit.
Within the next few months, I believe Facebook will make its own move in the Cryptocurrency game. Don't be surprised if you see a FB 'Coin' circulating in the next few months.
There is light at the end of the tunnel! I am hopeful future decentralization using Blockchain applications and AI; we will be able to finally cut out the middlemen once and for all - and give power, content, and data back to the people.
Thanks for reading and I am always open to dialogue : )