I encountered this unassuming little anniversary reminder on Facebook today:
As you can see by the date, I was not a Facebook early adopter. In fact, for years, I called myself a Facebook Resister, and wore my defiance as a badge of pride. It didn’t bother me that others were on Facebook, it was just Not For Me. Twitter was more my thing, and as far as I was concerned, it would stay that way for as long as possible.
Here’s what I wrote in my then-company newsletter back in 2007:
My dear old friend (and Zoonini client) Victoria Stanton coined a term recently that made me howl – and she’s kindly allowed me to share it with ZooNews readers. Facebook fascism describes an increasing number of people’s irritating assumption that everyone who matters to them is signed onto Facebook and is therefore privy to their invitations, news, and other day-to-day information. As Victoria says, “Maybe that’s an extreme way of putting it, but there have been a few occasions lately where people have just assumed I’m registered and will be able to read some post they’ve made for an art event, birthday party, etc. I got an email from (my friend) and her partner who invited me to join so that I can ‘keep up with their news’. So if I don’t join, then I don’t get to know what’s going on with them?”
I have no problem with people using Facebook as a channel to disseminate information, but please folks, don’t make it the exclusive channel. It can’t be just Victoria and I who are resisting joining the Facebook throngs. We don’t want another online addiction, but we don’t want to be completely shut out of the loop!
And then one day, I relented and changed my mind about joining. (Coincidentally, so did Victoria, around the same time as me.) I realized I needed to experience Facebook for myself if I was to help my clients with social media at the time — and frankly, I was tired of feeling left out.
I remember the exact moment I finally gave in and entered the Zuckerverse. If I recall, my heart was pounding a tad. I hit Submit on the signup form — submitting in the other sense as well — and then it was done. Suddenly, I was on the inside.
Featured image (viewable when sharing on, um, Facebook) (cc) by Sam Michel
Kathryn Presner 
9 replies on “Five Years of Facebook”
First of all, happy new year with lots of joy, health and relaxation!
This is a great post that reflects exactly how I feel as well. So many of my family and friends are on Facebook that they are very shocked when I tell them that I am not on Facebook and I do not plan to be on there either.
Considering I am an IT professional, they think I must be on Facebook, for some IT means social media. As far as I could see Facebook is a huge drain on time and people can easily get offended if you don’t check their news and reply to their messages which I can’t promise I’ll be able to.
It is funny that I created some business pages on Facebook for several years but I still don’t have one. Maybe I will create a personal account one day and I think just like you it’s sole purpose will be to be on the inside…
Thanks, Ogurel, I’m glad you could relate to the post! I wonder if people who work in tech like us feel more pressure to join popular social networks?
I think IT people definitely do feel more pressure since non-IT people believe that we must have accounts on all popular social networks. This is probably due to the fact that they think we need to have accounts in those social networks to do our jobs without knowing that 95% of IT work does not require any social network knowledge whatsoever.
Onur
I was late to the Facebook party too, only getting sucked in when I bought my first smartphone and now I’m well and truly hooked.
I’m the opposite though, I don’t really get Twitter. I’m not succinct enough, maybe, for the 140 character limit, I’d rather have the freedom to ramble.
That’s very interesting! We’re opposites in another way, too, in that I’ve never been tempted to put Facebook on my phone. It remains an at-home pastime.
I only use my phone, I have no computer.
I (mostly) ignore Facebook 🙂 but like the option to look in on it if/when I want.
Yes! I have a feeling there’s a whole set of people like you who join up mainly to observe and get info. 🙂
The “Zuckerverse”! That’s very funny!