The distinction between social media and communicating with friends is a interesting, but important one. I have some Signal groups that at times have huge bursts of activity and I haven't met everyone in them in person. Yet it's totally different from "social media" like Facebook. This seems obvious, but 2008 Facebook was closer to my Signal groups than current Facebook or Twitter. I want to say it's the news feed that made Facebook problematic, but maybe it's the volume and that there always is something new?

I have Facebook and have a fair variety of people on it but it's mostly dip in/dip out/here are photos of my trip. Mostly use email/SMS/iMessage if it's arranging a get-together with a closer overall group.

With Facebook, I think it is partly the feed but it's also that I've accumulated a fair number of mostly professional colleagues and friends-of-friends over time. Some classmates I've stayed in various degrees of touch with.

The one I am loving in recent years is searching if an item is in stock at a store nearby and in many cases, seeing the location of the item in the store itself. Not to mention being able to compare prices and see reviews or other details.