Facebook: To Follow or Unfollow

Because negativity bites

Somber vibes

Here we go. As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I clench my teeth. The words splashed across my screen are dripping with politics and discord. The happy bubble I woke up in is about to burst.

The last election caused many of my friends to either abandon Facebook or unfriend those with views different than their own. The social media platform was once used to share updates with family, friends, and acquaintances. Four years ago, that all changed. Facebook became a hostile environment.

As we are in another election year, heated discussions are flying across our feeds. The toxicity cruising through the Internet is thick as molasses, and I wish it would disappear. I cannot change people. However, I can mitigate my exposure to negativity.

Choices

One solution used by many is to unfriend people. Although I may not always agree with friends’ opinions, I do not necessarily want to cut the cord. An alternate fix is to unfollow people.

I want to avoid a negative person’s opinions from seeping into my mind, causing a whirlwind of dread to encompass my being. However, our paths may cross again. In the future, I may want to exchange pleasant banter with them. If I unfriended this person, most likely they will know. Talk about awkward. In my opinion, the better alternative is to silence them through an unfollow. This way, the offender will stay in my network, without bothering me with their silly musings.

Choose your tribe

The average Facebook user has hundreds of “friends.” This means posts from family and friends you want in your feed may be buried by acquaintances’ ramblings. Do you really want to be bombarded by posts from colleagues you have not spoken to in more than a decade? Probably not. By unfollowing people, you have the freedom to connect with those who are most important to you.

When you unfollow someone, you no longer have to see their status updates. However, you can always check out their page when a friend asks, “Did you see Karen’s post about her new baby?” Instead of being forced to succumb to Facebook’s algorithm, you choose whose content you see.

Create your happy place

When you limit the people you follow, you are able to focus on those who mean the most to you. Although Facebook has its algorithms, you can eliminate people who bring you down. There is enough sadness in the world, right now. When you flood your feed with people who mean the most to you, you put yourself in a better space.

I prefer to engage with posts related to people pictures, travel, happy quotes, and status updates from family and friends I care about. By eliminating the excess, I can give my attention to those who matter to me. When I log into Facebook, I want to be uplifted, not deflated.

Take control of who crosses your path digitally. Only follow people who raise your vibration. Connect with those whose news you actually want to hear about. Keep your network, but put acquaintances and anyone who brings you down in the shadows. Create your happy, digital space.