You know what I hate about Facebook? It’s the only social network where literally everyone you know has an account. It’s one of those things that’s become a simple fact of life and no one ever questions it. If you take a step back it’s pretty crazy though right? We preach about the importance of decentralization but then the most popular… software… thing is the most centralized of them all.

I’ve written about how I left social media but I still have a Facebook account for getting in touch with friends and family I couldn’t otherwise contact. It’s become such an integral part of life I don’t even count it as social media the way I do Twitter, Mastodon, etc. It’s just this stupid thing you have to have or else you won’t be able to constantly compare yourself to everyone you’ve ever met since you were six years old.

Everyone has the freedom to do whatever they want; anyone can use whatever website they like. It just blows my mind that there’s been nothing since what, like 2008 that’s ever rivaled Facebook‽

There’s TikTok. That’s addictive and has a huge user base but it’s not really the same though, is it? Facebook is this place where you can share text, links, videos and images, mostly with friends from real life but also people you’ve met in the communities hosted there too. TikTok is a place where you can upload videos and live stream. Both are social networks but they’re kinda apples and oranges.

Facebook is the everything app. There’s the obvious social aspect, but then there’s games, a Cash App/PayPal kinda thing, instant messaging, an absurdly raw and uncensored video platform, built-in AI chatbot stuff, a complete Craigslist alternative, the whole Metaverse™️ thing (is that still a thing?) and probably a lot of other shit I’m forgetting. It’s the only place where you can watch a cartel beheading video and then go comment on a pic of your niece at her ballet recital. And then you can buy a crusty old PS3 with 12 games on Marketplace for $80.

It almost feels like a web-based operating system. Just a really locked down, centralized operating system that logs all your interactions and other metrics. Maybe you’ll fight with some random strangers after you’ve had a few drinks. Post a music video or an article that’ll get a Like and a comment from some guy you met at a music festival seven years ago.

It’s kinda funny, if the CEO of a retail chain or fast food place says something fucked up, we all boycott the shit out of them and cancel them into oblivion. If Zuckerberg says something completely unhinged and against everything you stand for, you remain on Facebook because that’s where everyone you’ve ever met goes to check in.

The internet holds so much potential. It’s literally a global network that’s free to explore 24/7. The possibilities are endless but so many of us spend 99% of our time on Facebook and TikTok and the other 1% applying for jobs, reading emails and Googling shit. I wish there were more alternatives. Er, I wish people tried more alternatives and other completely different things every once in a while.