Why I don’t do facebook…

2 separate incidents last week forced this update..

I missed a message in my facebook inbox from a close friend – and ended up not being able to see him even though we had not met in years.  The second was an email from another friend asking why I do not post anything on facebook. A few of you have commented on my “conspicuous silence” on fb in the past. I felt it was time to clear the air.

In spite of my fascination for all things tech (and a masochist tendency to try all *new* things), I was a somewhat late – and reluctant – entrant to fb. For one, I preferred staying in touch with friends on the phone and in-person, rather than watching their updates in a “stream”. Two, I did not feel there was anything so exciting going on in my life that the whole world (or all my friends) needed to know about it..

What I did care was that the whole world – or as large a number of people as possible – hear, discuss and debate some of the ideas that I had been writing about on my blog – on Indian politics, history, culture and contemporary issues.

Facebok for me was therefore an extension of my blog and online presence. Due to its rapidly growing popularity (the medium & my page), I decided to make my page the “online hub” for all my activism (related to politics, systemic reform etc). For a period of several years starting 2010, I spent a lot of time and effort on this medium. Not with my friends or family though, but on my page which some (most?) of you know about..

Thanks to your support, encouragement, good luck – and not least the efforts of subscribers/members and well-wishers – the page has close to 63,000 members today. The decision to opt for a page very early on was driven by the fact that facebook did not allow individuals to have more than 5000 “friends” on their personal network. I felt this was limiting. In hindsight, it was a wise decision.

More recently though, facebook has been acting funny.  My posts which had a reach in tens of thousands are today seen by a few thousand on most days. This is far from ideal considering that the page has 63k likes. I know – or I should say, I can guess – the reasons behind this but that is a discussion for another time.  I have since significantly reduced the time I spend on  my facebook page.

For now, I just wanted to say, please do not consider my “silence” on facebook as a lack of interest in what you are up to (I am as curious as anyone else!). It is just that I spend most of my online time (outside of work) on my blog – and increasingly twitter. Ergo less time for fb – and a very high possibility that I have missed some of your most memorable/special updates. For this, I am sorry. But you should know I value your friendship. And I am sure the relationship is not so tenuous as an fb “Like”.

So, please please do not be surprised, or upset if I miss your updates, or forget to “Like” them. I do try and have a peek around whenever time permits – but that is rare. My fb login session is literally limited to updating my page every day and logging out almost immediately.

Most importantly, if you wish to send me a message, pl do *not* use fb messages. I have also just realised (with horror) the long pending messages in my facebook inbox – which I almost never check. 

Pl email, SMS, text – or call! Of course, you are very welcome over at the blog, the page or twitter for comments/ discussion on my political activities/ideas. Thanks for your understanding – and happy “facebooking” to all of you!

P.S. If you have not done so yet, pl take a look at the page – and if you like what you see, go ahead, “Like” it and make sure to check “Get Notifications” (although that the page is unlikely to be of great interest to you unless you are keen on Indian politics, current affairs etc.!).