At some point, we've all said the same 6 words: "I need to get off of Facebook." Logging off can be so tempting whether it's for the moment or a prolonged, deactivated absence. The flood of material and information can be overwhelming.
With Facebook comes auto-play videos and thousands of voiced opinions. Yes, free speech is important--say what you want to say, but that doesn't mean anyone has to read it. Un-friending gives us this choice because we don't want to cringe each time we scroll or get heated by a brief statement. But there are other reasons to unfriend someone; go through the list below and see what winter cleaning you can do.
1. The Ones You Don't Remember
They can sneak up on you with mass tagging and links to buy free sneakers. Not only do you not remember meeting them, you don't remember adding them either.
2. Exes
You can't get space when you have their face looking luminous as ever through that glowing screen.
3. Anyone You Dislike in Real Life
What makes you think you'd like them in cyber space?
4. All Negative Nancy's
If you have no real relationship with this person, there is no real need to allow yourself to be exposed to such presence. It would be impossible to read it without taking away some bad feelings.5. The Paragraph Poster
You usually scroll by them anyway, but when they catch your eye with an ignorant statement, you're hooked like a sweater on a fence. Or maybe it's because they tagged you in it, along with everyone else on their friends' list.
6. The One Who Thinks Facebook is Twitter
One hundred and forty character-long statements, about what's happening to them in the moment, every few moments: live through your Facebook feed.
7. The Series Spoiler
See above definition of a live-tweeter. Now instead of talking about themselves, they're typing out the ending of a series you've been following for five years—but are unable to watch until it streams online tomorrow. It burns doesn't it? Unleash that wrath, de-friend that fun-ruiner.
8. The Venter
9. The Controversial One
There's probably a few, actually, that are more free with their statuses than others. And by that I mean, more comfortable being offensive.
10. Any Family Member that Comments on Pictures Circa 2008
Self-explanatory.
11. The Snitch
It could be appropriate for Facebook, but it doesn't mean it would be appropriate for mom to find out.
As two-dimensional as it is—communicating through a screen—Facebook can be revealing, seeing how a person can react. So don't wait, clean up that homepage by deleting your "friends" today!
