I deleted my account over a year ago, and I periodically consider rejoining for a few reasons:
a) My social life has suffered considerably. I've heard that if your friendships are so shallow that they vanish when you're not on facebook they weren't worth much anyhow. That may be so, but at least when I was on facebook I would know when my "friends" (read: casual acquaintances that I met once) were throwing a party or going out somewhere that I could join. I'm single and I moved to my current city a few years ago and don't have old friendships. If I want any hope of meeting new people, making friends, dating, etc I need to be present enough to get opportunities. Leaving facebook cut off the most valuable tool I had to expand my social circle, and I now rarely go out or meet new people. I'm lonely, but I'm really uncomfortable creating a facebook account so I haven't done much about it.
b) Meetup was a nice idea, but other than tech talks, nobody seems to use it where I am. If you like $hobby and want to find other local ${hobby}ists to share your activity with, you need to be on facebook. Do you like riding dirt bikes, but know that going to the desert with a bike without a buddy is dangerous...well, if you don't have facebook how are you going to find a buddy? You won't, instead you'll ride alone and hope you won't break a leg somewhere there isn't cell reception.
b) Groups have replaced Craigslist. Where I live, not being on facebook costs money. Want to buy used furniture? Facebook. Interested in a cordless drill that costs $$$? Buy second-hand on facebook. Or just pay retail and buy new. Looking for an apartment? You can find a roommate on...wait for it...Facebook.
a) My social life has suffered considerably. I've heard that if your friendships are so shallow that they vanish when you're not on facebook they weren't worth much anyhow. That may be so, but at least when I was on facebook I would know when my "friends" (read: casual acquaintances that I met once) were throwing a party or going out somewhere that I could join. I'm single and I moved to my current city a few years ago and don't have old friendships. If I want any hope of meeting new people, making friends, dating, etc I need to be present enough to get opportunities. Leaving facebook cut off the most valuable tool I had to expand my social circle, and I now rarely go out or meet new people. I'm lonely, but I'm really uncomfortable creating a facebook account so I haven't done much about it.
b) Meetup was a nice idea, but other than tech talks, nobody seems to use it where I am. If you like $hobby and want to find other local ${hobby}ists to share your activity with, you need to be on facebook. Do you like riding dirt bikes, but know that going to the desert with a bike without a buddy is dangerous...well, if you don't have facebook how are you going to find a buddy? You won't, instead you'll ride alone and hope you won't break a leg somewhere there isn't cell reception.
b) Groups have replaced Craigslist. Where I live, not being on facebook costs money. Want to buy used furniture? Facebook. Interested in a cordless drill that costs $$$? Buy second-hand on facebook. Or just pay retail and buy new. Looking for an apartment? You can find a roommate on...wait for it...Facebook.