I deleted my twitter, facebook and orkut account a few days back. While I enjoyed my stay with these social networking sites, I found that I was no longer contributing to the conversations on these networks.
Perhaps, the Dunbar number kicked in. Robin Dunbar has suggested that the typical size of an egocentric network is constrained to about 150 members due to possible limits in the capacity of the human communication channel.
The Dunbar number explains why I enjoyed my initial stay. I remember having very interesting conversations when I was following less than 100 people. Now by following 500+ people and being followed by 900+ people, the interest had begun to fade. Same with Facebook and Orkut!
The other big reason was the distraction. Trying to catch up on “friends and followers” was becoming a distraction. And at the time when I have a lot of activities planned out, it doesn’t add value to spend time on non priority areas.
Another reason I opted out was that I still perceive the networks to have a low signal to noise ratio. It comes out strongly with Amit Agarwal’s experience with Facebook Ads. Amit writes, “The ad made some 350,000 impressions across various Facebook profiles but the real surprising part is that only 18 people finally clicked on the ads. That’s like a 0.005% CTR with the average CPC at $1.18.”
And there’s a problem of authenticity. Do I tweet about the “real” Ranjan or I am faking it all the time? For example, I tweet whenever I am @having a feast but do not tweet when I have the “sukhi roti with daal”. It’s easy to tweet good things and be quite about our fears, failings, etc.
Moreover while I did use plugins that posted my posts and “status” to the networking sites automatically, I often felt sheepish to be self pimping myself.
All that ends with the accounts deleted.
I have seen people experimenting with a week off the social networking sites. I guess it points to the fact that it IS stressful and addictive. So being off these networking sites can possibly show some withdrawal symptoms. But I can take these symptoms and shove it away!
Infact, Facebook, in a last ditch effort to save the account, pointed out a number of close friends who will miss me! I thumbed it down by saying that I can call them anytime and vice versa. I don’t need FB to be friends with people dear to me.
So now, I’ll stick to this blog. And I’m happy to hear from you anytime on my email or on phone.
And this week when three “Friends on Facebook” are having their birthdays, I will pick up the phone and wish them a very Happy Birthday.
I edit Personal Finance Online Resources, nurture Financial Literacy Foundation, deliver Financial Awareness Workshops and have built a desktop RupeeManager.
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Kudos to you!! Truly, keeping an eye on all these social stuff, most of the time is just waste but because OTHERS are doing it, I also should do it is the mentality for many people.
I appreciate you followed your instinct and decided to be away. on other hand, what I did is to share whatever I feel good and not to look what’s going on.
Jagbir
@Jagbir Thanks. I have this blog to share what I feel like. And I can respond here too!
Btw, here’s one on the deadly sins of social media http://businessworld.in/bw/2010_07_10_How_Not_To_Do_It.html?offset=0&max=1
Thats a brave move. Not everyone has the courage and simplicity of thought to do that. And last but not the least breaking the circle of procrastination and breaking the habit