DON'T GET ADDICTED TO FAKEBOOK!

I think this needs to be in the Christian Family Forum.

It's become quite a problem, esp for Christian families to see both young and old addicted to Facebook (which I call Fakebook). So many hours spent in trivial chitchat. And it's quite useless to try evangelizing on FB, because nobody really bothers about Christ or the Bible or salvation. It's all about satisfy, gratify...'me, Me, ME'!

I spent some years on FB, thinking I could share Christ with people there. But it was a mirage, a delusion, a nightmare. People who appeared to be interested for some time, suddenly switched off, lost interest and went back to their old way. I think it's the medium; it's so transient, ephemeral, even fickle. People are just 'killing time' on FB - and spiritually killing themselves.

So this is a warning to Christian Families. Don't get involved in FB as parents, and if you see your children getting into that pernicious site, try diverting them into more active and useful pastimes and sports. But don't ever, don't ever allow them to get addicted to FB. It kills the spirit! Honestly!

So here's my take on FB; it's called 'Goodbye, Fakebook!'

GOODBYE FAKEBOOK!

Suppose all Facebook accounts were hacked.
(Those on Fakebook are hacks anyway)
That will be the day!
It would be a huge mess.
You wouldn't know who's who, I guess.
Well, there's no point guessing;
Facebook activity is just a bunch of lies.
I wouldn't be surprised.

We all think we are writing something meaningful in our posts,
And putting up something relevant through audios and pics,
But frankly, all my Facebook friends are ghosts.
For a moment it appears that I'm talking to someone real out there.
But I find after a few months he's disappeared into thin air.
(I said Fakebook is full of hacks, but some are hicks.) *

There are lots of dull old people pretending to be young and having
lively chats;
But when I see some boring grandma grieving over her dead cat, or sick parrot or bloated fish
(This is worse than cultivating bad bacteria in a petri dish!)
I think it's time Facebook shut down!
Being too much on Facebook can turn sane men into plain clowns.

Don't you think Fakebook should just 'fly away'?
That will be the day!
O happy day, when Facebook flies away
And all its victims tied to laptop screens and mobile cells
Can go out to breathe fresh air and play
(Get some sunshine into their souls)
Instead of being trapped as sick emaciated prisoners in a Facebook hell.

Yes, let every Facebook account go bust
(As one day they must!) .
Many will weep and cry
(Signs of mental debility) ,
And others will groan and sigh.
But surely Fakebook must die
And be interred in a huge Facebook Archive
If you and I want to remain alive.

hicks: country bumpkins
hacks: mediocre persons

Facebook is a ministry for some , a great way to get Gods word out , especially for those who are disabled and cannot get out...
We maybe the only representation of Jesus Christ to send the good news...

There are many wonderful Facebook ministry pages , and I thank God that they are up and running , and one I really like that has helped me is from a Christian sister , who has been led by God to speak on her mental health , and how she rest in our LORD...
All the glory to God I say Amen...

I agree with you. There are exceptions.

Just to add some clarity to the OP. I am talking about 'Facebook Addiction', which is a serious mental problem affecting thousands, maybe millions, across the globe.

Perhaps this poem will explain things better:

FAKEBOOK ILLUSION

I am waiting for Facebook to die,
for people to be freed from Internet captivity.
It’s a shame that so much time is spent
on social networking sites
in a false illusory world, full of fantasies and lies,
(not to refer to the unspeakable filth on many sites;
so many young people and children out in this jungle,
it gives me a fright!) .

The actual world is right by our side;
but are we ready to interact with reality
(abandoning our stubbornness and pride!)
Why can’t we speak to real people in real life?
Why should so many live boring, lonely, fruitless lives,
chit-chatting, sharing silly posts and pics
and trashy trivial stuff
(so much fakery and fluff) ?

It’s really a waste of time;
ruining precious lives.
Are the millions on Facebook sane,
or are they dupes like most of us,
addicted to the Internet,
getting high with hearts & thumbs ups & smiles;
what a terrible shame
(Surely Net Addiction is to blame!) .

I’ve written this so that people who
want to escape from the miry clay —
this stinking squalid fen of Facebook
will respond bravely and say,
‘Oh, Yes, Yes, Yes!
I want to get out of this mess;
Too long I’ve been caught in a web of delusion,
this deadly deceptive Fakebook Illusion! ‘

***

Wow your very right😍

Thanks, John. Glad you understood the seriousness of the issue.

There are two poems in this thread. Not only Goodbye, Fakebook! but also Fakebook Illusion.
Share them with your friends.
Mark Zuckerberg is making 'zuckers' or suckers of all of us!

Never saw the need or desire to open a Facebook account. Not everyone feels the same that you do about this social media platform and for many, it fits a useful purpose.

As with anything it is a simple tool. It can be be used for good or evil. I’ve seen how well it works to help the Kingdom. It can be used to connect people to church family and help grow the faith. But used inappropriately it can cause so many problems as well. It is easy to get caught up in it all. I found myself one day wondering just what I was doing. I was arguing with people who I never met about trivial things like political ideology and what vehicle make was better. I’d waste hours on end. Days wasted fighting this vain fight that really didn’t matter. The tipping point was during the Tea Party protests. I literally burned myself out from it . I recognized my problem and took a step back from it all. Surrendered it all to God. Still have the account but am trying to use it only to stay connected to distant friends and family and further the kingdom.

Thanks for the testimony.

You said: "I’ve seen how well it works to help the Kingdom." 99% of the time, it doesn't. Yours must be a rare case!

Fakebook is basically an escape tool - escape from reality! It gives the impression that it's 'real life'. But frankly it's all pretence!

Hope you will come into the spirit of those two poems: Goodbye Fakebook! and Fakebook Illusion!

it's as you say. even this forum can be used for good or evil. it's in the choices we make

frankly, I'm hardly ever on fb but do have some family and friends I can contact there

no biggie

No doubt,It can be used as an escape tool. I will read the poems but first let me say so can almost anything even off the net such as Reading Fantasy books, the newspaper, board games, internet games, card games, drugs, tobacco, alcohol. All used improperly aid in escapism. The world is in pain. But it always has been. All Facebook did was put the pain and pretending on stage for the world to see what was already there. Facebook didn’t create it. It exposed just how much work we as Christians have yet to do. It’s a calling to action to show the world just how much God does care about their pain and suffering . To me I guess I feel the internet age isn’t a fad or phase. It isn’t going away. If not Facebook it will be other internet based forums and programs similar in the future. I feel that as A Christian I should harness that technology to embrace the kingdom to help reach the youth that could otherwise be unreachable. I feel it’s a calling not to shrink back but to push forward and lean into God asking him how we can use this new age tool for his kingdom. Now that’s my opinion on it as just an average everyday person. I have no formal ministry training, I’m probably completely unqualified to have a valid opinion on this. I’m sure yours is different and that’s ok. I wish you well all the same.

Thank you, brother! But one day, like me, you will realize that it's all a Fakebook Illusion.

Do read the two poems, Goodbye Fakebook! and Fakebook Illusion, which are part of this thread. They will surely enlighten you. I wasted a few years on that horrible FB.

And nowadays psychologists are trying to find out ways to free tons of people from Facebook Addiction!

Blessings!

Given that Facebook is over 15 years old already, and that many people have long since moved on to newer platforms, this whole thread seems rather a waste of effort. Perhaps if it were focused on 'social media sites' (of which CC is one!), it might have some value.

Or not.

I have not seen a lot of evangelism resulting in conversions on Facebook, but one incident comes to mind. But Facebook can be used for discussions similar to those in these forums, and also for sharing sermons, messages, words of encouragement, etc. I have seen ministries that use Facebook this way.

That was the whole idea. While he made billions. But there is an even more sinister aspect of FB than simply inane distraction (which is actually mind manipulation). It is the destruction of democratic societies and the installation of Totalitarianism and censorship.

Years ago, supposedly conservative politicians should have made every effort to ensure that news media and social media would not be allowed to interfere with free speech or with election integrity. But they did absolutely nothing about this. Each time they have had those time-wasting congressional hearings, the media barons have simply laughed in their faces and lied about everything. And now the social media giants are in bed with Communist China.

what about instagram, is that evil too?

I’m not addicted to Facebook, but I’m addicted to Christian Chat and Christian forums in general.

I have found it personally difficult to respond to this post. Every attempt (I have tried several times) has sounded overly judgmental and critical.

I have resigned from all popular forms of social media, and yes, it has been a struggle.

FB, Twitter and the others popular media forms may try very hard to keep their house clean, I don't know what they do. I do know; sadly, and undeniable that these platforms are used extensively to meet, groom and exploit children. We hear a great deal about their efforts to control political thought, but nothing about efforts to protect children from abusers.

He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I do not wish to criticize everyone who uses FB, there is much good that happens there. This is simply where I am on this issue.

I think you have to be over 13 to use fb. And social media in general.

Parents, I wouldnt even have devices for children under 13. If you can afford a computer, you share it, you monitor it.

Dont put the responsibility of the entire world wide web on your child. Ugh.