Question: Is it possible to live & thrive without Facebook or MySpace?
“What? No, I don’t believe in such stupid networks or ideas” That was the answer given by a friend researcher at a medical research institution who was studying with me at the graduate school last week. I had asked her what she thought of MySpace or Facebook. The same day, another person said “Oh yes I am, and I sent you an add request an hour ago. Beat you to it! 
Are you on MySpace too?” as a reply given to someone else who asked others whether or not they were on any of the online social networks.
Slowly yet surely, a growing number of people are finding out that Facebook or MySpace accounts are becoming an integral part of their daily lives. At the same time, a group of people keeps wondering not about the possibility of having such networks become part of their lives, but about the possibility of having a life which can easily thrive and survive by switching such networks on and off completely at will.
People think it is healthy add contacts to MySpace & Facebook. I think it is healthy to do the opposite too.
At least every other day I hear someone ask me or someone to add them on Facebook or MySpace. Some respond by saying that they already have added them on one or both of those networks. Some respond by saying that anyone participating on such networks has no life and needs to grow up. Both working and non-working people have a sub-group of people loving such networks, and both types of people also have a sub-group of people that think such networks are a waste of time. Personally, I admire the idea, and the people who practise such an idea, of being able to delete MySpace or Facebook accounts after using and trying them. One can use and try something, and then decide anytime when to end such an activity if such an activity does not prove to be useful overall.
Online social networks are part of your life. You do not need to depend on an online social network.
What everyone needs to realize is that MySpace and Facebook are network-prototypes that depend on your activities. They are online entities, and can become part of life - they are not life by their own sense. They do not need to be part of the life of even the developers of such networks. My life can get enriched from online activities, and it does1. However, it would be very foolish of me to let an online account control or negatively affect my life, though that is also true of many offline accounts of various things.
One thing is for sure. It is possible to live and thrive without Facebook and MySpace. At least for many people it is. And at least for the time being.
Thank you for reading. 
Footnotes
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- Someone knows what I’m talking about
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( September 8th, 2008 at 7:51 am )
I totally agree with you. Very legitimate post. It’s certainly possible to live and thrive without Facebook and MySpace. I personally found these things a total waste of time.
( September 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm )
Of course it is possible to live & thrive without them. Facebook, MySpace and suchlike sites are wasting your time. There are people who are dependent on an online social network and this dependence spread more and more with every passing day.
( September 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pm )
Always an interesting post on your site! I would say, yes we should all realize we could live without FaceBook or Myspace. The same could be said for games on all systems, and technology itself! Think of all the things you could be doing with that time - exercising, earning money, spending time with family and friends…and yet so many people want to sit and waste their time talking to people they don’t even know.
( September 12th, 2008 at 12:54 am )
My forever MySpace.
( September 12th, 2008 at 12:30 pm )
Answer: yes.
I’ve never used them, and now I find since my gaming laptop went ’splat’ recently, I’ve got much more time to do something productive.
( September 15th, 2008 at 6:42 pm )
It is possible to live without these social networking sites, but it would be a lil difficult when it comes to networking/staying upto date with relatives, friends and colleagues.
A social network definitely is not the oxygen, but its definitely not worth ignoring either. Its an easy, simple and hassle free interface to stay in touch with all the realtives and friends. Just imagine yourself with hundreds of friends trying to inform them of your latest vacation or some important event. It would be a mess.
( September 17th, 2008 at 1:06 pm )
Most definitely!!
If you would have asked if it is possible to live and thrive without e-mail….I would have said NO! Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are useful sometimes and at other times they are a complete waste of time. I can go days, weeks, and even months without logging into either of those accounts. I use them mostly to keep in touch with friends and relatives but I could pick up the phone and call them just as easily. It’s sad when people become completely dependent on these kinds of services, especially when they are using them to stalk other people.
Great post by the way!
( September 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm )
I wish those silly sites was never invented at the first place. My best friend plays poker every single night on Facebook, i havent meat him for a weeks. My best girl friend have met the Canadian gay and married him last July. Flee to Canada…
I hate Facebook!
Collaborative Writing
( October 12th, 2008 at 1:14 am )
sometimes i feel irritated with all the online network stuff. i feel obliged to update my network site whilst i’m busy with my daily tasks. maintaining a online network site is adding to my daily chores. but at the same time, i need to keep in touch with my friends. i find it really useful to contact my friends, especially old friends. i’ve got my presentation group set up on facebook!
( October 20th, 2008 at 4:43 pm )
I hate all those social sites. I have never had a myspace account or used facebook. So I would say that it is definitely possible to live without them!
( October 24th, 2008 at 6:12 am )
Social sites are not impossible to live without. But they will sooner or later replaced with the next best thing online.
( November 5th, 2008 at 11:55 pm )
I don’t why but I have always thought that myspace and facebook are for little teenagers. So I’ve always avoided being a part of that. I know that is not necessarily the case but it has just never appealed to me. Some of my friends have account and I have never looked at them and probably never will. It is definitely possible to live without those. But whatever…