I think it's because you might lose contact with people if you don't have a FB profile.

If you're not on FB and don't interact with your 'friends' frequently, people kinda forget you exist and stop talking to you, and friendships wither. Even geographically close friendships.

Kinda like being ostracised.

Am I the only one who thinks this line of thought is bullshit??

I am off FB for more than a year now, and I am just as much in contact with my friends as always.

For the record, I have never used FB. I hated it from go.

I also can't point to any real studies; all I've got is anecdata, much like your personal experience.

That said, I have heard from multiple people variations on trying to quit or use it less, and getting grief from family and friends for not taking part. And I personally get passive-agressive commentary from my family for refusing to take part - "What did you think of - oh, that's right, you never saw [cousin]'s baby pictures because of your Facebook thing."

That is excellent for you. But you are not the world. I interact with people I'd label as "friends" where Facebook (or Facebook Messenger for some) is the only avenue I have for that interaction.

And for some, it's the only avenue I'd want to use.

I never said I was the world, but please take my statements in the context of close personal relationships.

If ones requirement is to maintain acquaintances, then fine. However, I was disputing the parent comment's assertion that leaving FB is akin to a punishment.