It's been since 2009 since I deleted my Facebook account, and my timeline was roughly like yours for weeks 1-4. Then:

- 2nd year, wonder if I should get back on to 'stay in touch.'

- 3rd-5th year, never think about it

- 6th year, wonder if I should get on Facebook so my family can see pictures of my kids. But, my wife does Instagram.

- 8th year, smug comment on HN to show how long I've been off Facebook :).

> wonder if I should get on Facebook so my family can see pictures of my kids

I had a realization: those who really want to see photos of my kids will simply ask me for them so i never posted their photos (pull not push)...so far, about four people have asked which made me very happy that someone is really interested in seeing them and also that my kids didn't become a source of nuisance for many others.

Been off FB for years. For kids photos, I setup an "announcement-only" mailman list on my VPS for family, and routinely email photos to members, with a footer requesting they not be re-shared without permission.

As a result I share fewer photos, but the ones I do share are precious and well-received.

I convinced my family to install telegram and we set up a telegram group to share baby photos and news. It works very well for us

FYI - my parents refused to join Facebook, so they started a Cluster account. I have no idea and the privacy and stuff for that, but it works for them.

I never did delete my account, but I access it maybe once a year. Whenever I hear that someone I had friended had something happen, such as a death in the family or a marriage, I'll log in once to post a message, maybe once or twice more to see if there are any responses, and then log out again and go take a long shower. I'm like the Lone Ranger riding in when needed and then riding off into the sunset when done.

In between, I keep my privacy shields up and relegate all the FB notifications to the trash. There is only so much social interaction I can handle at a time anyway.

You do know Instagram is owned by Facebook right?

First of all, I love that this prompted you to create an account. The author of the parent comment might not care as much if it is on Instagram, because one doesn't give away just as much information there, compared to facebook; and there's no equivalent to the "Like" button that tracks you across third-party websites.

Actually the comment was first posted by a non-green account, then removed and the same comment was posted by this green account.

It's the same company, they own all the domains. If you're using Instagram than FB knows who you are.

Creating that throwaway account was a genuinely good idea...

I can beat your smug comment! I've never had Facebook at all. :D

I never had Facebook. Ha!

Off since, I don't remember--roughly 2011.

1. Did not delete my account, an attempt to guard against someone impersonating me there.

2. Deleted all content I had stored there. Obviously I don't believe FB actually deleted it, but I figured their soft delete is as good as it will get.

3. Asked all FB friends to kindly ignore my account, not to tag me or post pictures of me, and that if they saw activity from my account they can be assured it was not from me.

It did not bother me at all not being on Facebook, and still does not. There seem to be no drawbacks whatsoever. When I read about people feeling that their lives would be ruined and that they have no social life without FB, I kind of just shake my head.

Here's a lil stressful method to wean yourself off Facebook. It's what I did.

Use the settings / notification tab to disable certain notification type. E.g.:

* Some one tagged you

* comments on a discussion you liked, commented...

* who viewed your page

* who shared a link....

Eventually, Facebook ignores some of these settings in a desperate attempt to bring you back.

So create email filters to delete Facebook notifications based on certain keywords.

Also use an extension to block those fun / addicting autoplaying videos.

Gosh, that sounds an awfully lot like ending a nasty drug habit:

- Quit smoking.

- 1st week, light up a cigarette in a stressful situation, enjoy it...

- 2nd week, light up a cigarette and immediateley regret it...

- 3rd week, wonder why you still have this package of ciggis at home (and the inner schweinehund responding: they are for emergency situations, EMERGENCY IS NOW!!!)

- 4th week, throw away the "emergency"-package, lighters and ashtrays, just to be sure...

No shit, I never used facebook, but it seems like it has a similiar addiction-potency as nicotine (wich is quite high).

Emotions are another source of chemical messengers. Lots of things can be, to varying degrees.

Humans are social animals, even those of us that /usually/ prefer to be private.

I'm going on 8 months now and I don't miss it at all. My real life interactions have been so much more rewarding, too.