Why I, as an Introvert, Love Facebook

Facebook gets lots of abuse, and I get that.  People think it’s replaced real interactions (although people are now arguing just as vocally that Facebook interactions are as “real” as face-to-face interactions), we get in Facebook fights where we fling mud at our friends’ friends whom we’ve never met and know nothing about, and when we only see what people choose to share about their lives, we forget that they, too, are dealing with workplace drama, car troubles, kids misbehaving, etc etc.

But I love Facebook.  And I’m an introvert.  Which may actually be WHY I love Facebook – it allows me to choose my interactions.  There’s no one in my face demanding a response.  I can choose whether or not to comment.  I can choose who can comment on my posts.  I can choose who can see my posts.  Granted, I’m prepared to back up everything I say in a court of law, but I make full use of my privacy settings, and thus Facebook actually allows me to be exactly as introverted as I choose to be.  I choose to share certain things with the general public, some with only people who know me, people who support me, or simply my friends and family.  And Facebook doesn’t get in my face, demanding that I share more of myself than I want to.

Also, Facebook allows me to enjoy other people.  (Yeah, introversion doesn’t mean I hate people – haven’t you read all the pro-introversion articles & books lately?)  People are, quite possibly, the most fascinating creation ever.  Seriously, God knew what He was doing when He made us.  And I hope He is sitting up there getting a kick out of everything we do!  In the same way I sit here, keep up with the 200 or so people I’m actually interested in “keeping tabs” on, and am not obligated to respond in any society-ordained-“appropriate” way.  It’s like a great movie.

Facebook exposes me to new things.  I devour news & books.  And most the time, if I read about new concept, article or movement these days, it’s on Facebook.  It’s because a friend shared a link or a story and I clicked over to something.  I can not turn on my TV all day, but I check my Facebook feed.  It keeps me updated.

It keeps me connected.  At times, I need to hibernate.  I don’t want to talk to people.  It’s not that I’m not concerned or interested.  It’s that actual vocal interaction takes something out of me that reading a post – even responding to a post – does not. 

It allows me to communicate.  Need to get something out to everyone who’s concerned about what’s up with my life?  Yup, Facebook.  Usually utilizing one of the afore-mentioned lists of people who have supported me in life, and not a public broadcast.

It allows me to screen out people who are draining or toxic.  I can choose to not “follow” people, and restrict what they see of me to only what I’m comfortable sharing with the public.  I use these settings.  It makes my interactions so much simpler, more fulfilling, and cuts out 99% of my life’s drama.

Facebook allows me to put my best foot forward and reminds me of how awesome I am.  I don’t have to share that I was screaming into my pillow last night because the grief hit me so bad.  I don’t have to share that so-and-so told me I’m a horrible human being for enforcing rules at work.  I don’t have to share that someone just insulted me to my face or behind my back.  All I have to share is what I choose – and I choose to highlight the things I love.  The things I love about my life and my self.  So when I am having a downer day – and who doesn’t? – all I have to do is scroll back through my own highlight reel, and I remember how awesome I am.

For that – for all of that – Facebook is fabulous.