Facebook.

Fact 1: I hate Facebook.

Fact 2: I probably spend at least an hour on Facebook everyday.

Why do I hate Facebook? Well, it's a recent development. I used to not mind Facebook, but that was before I realized how much I put on a metaphorical mask when I log onto Facebook (for more mask stuff, see previous post). On Facebook, I can be anybody I want to. People will look at my pictures and statuses and say, "Wow, this girl is great! She has it all together; look at that status she posted about how much she loves Jesus! And look at those pictures of her on the mission trip! I wish I was that cool." So I put up what I want people to see and in doing that I shape what everyone thinks about me. Facebook is the biggest and most public mask ever created. For example: I can't tell you how many pictures of myself I have untagged; if a picture of me looks slightly weird, I untag it. Can't let anybody see how I look in real life! Instagram (which I love to use) has become popular recently... why? Because you can alter how the picture looks. We don't like real life.

I was talking to one of my best friends about Facebook recently, and we agreed that it is a real problem, especially for girls. We have become so reliant on Facebook! People look to Facebook to find value in themselves. If I post a good picture of myself or a particularly clever status, I will admit that I'm on Facebook about twice as much waiting for a 'like' to affirm how good-looking or smart I am. How pathetic is that?! Especially when there's a heavenly Father who can show us how much we are worth- EVEN on our worst days that nobody else can see. And for people who post "my life sucks" statuses, they're looking for just as much affirmation and attention (something along the lines of: "no, you're beautiful!" or "OMG, whats wrong? If you're posting a vague status about you ex-boyfriend for the whole world to see, it must be important! Text me!").

I've almost stopped posting statuses on Facebook altogether because I'm tired of lying to the world. I'm tired of acting like I'm so happy and excited and feeling "blessed" about everything that happens to me. Really?! Is that really true?! NO. I'm a wreck most of the time!
...I think I just threw up in my mouth a little thinking about all the "masked" posts.

Anyways, I'm still on Facebook all the time. It's a problem and I realize it. I like to know what's happening and I like to know who's in a relationship with who, etc... It's really quite terrible. I'm trying to stop. This summer I'm planning on getting on Facebook minimally. I can't wait.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:8-10)