Any thoughts on a Facebook replacement?

[CentralMass]

[Nictuku]

1. Between BlueSky and here, I think I have what I need to carry on

Four days until I delete my (15 year) facebook account. I put up notice to my friends/family that on 1/20, that I'm deleting facebook. This gave me time to get contact info from friends and family.

I mostly only see ads (that somehow seem to know what my personal conversations - very disturbing)

I am liking BlueSky a lot. You can't post as much text (one reason I never much liked twitter, which I deleted after Elon bought it). That is where DU is good.

But I am really enjoying the kinds of things I am seeing on BlueSky.

I don't watch any news any more. I'm still stressed as hell over what is going on. I do need to keep myself an informed citizen, and between DU and BlueSky, I do feel informed (more than my ex MAGA friends that I'm leaving in the dust)

[CentralMass]

7. I have a Bluesky account but haven't used it much. My Twitter is account os still activr but I dont use it.

[Nictuku]

24. I'm just figuring out BlueSky

I had a Twitter account, but never really used it.

Here are a few suggestions to get going on BlueSky, it is all about Following people (you see what they post).

There is a 'Discover' think where you can look at different groups (I'm interested in Science, that is the only one I selected there)

You can search for people or organizations that you like, and then follow them. Then, as you see posts you like, you can click on the user and see if you want to follow them. I've had lots of people follow me, but I only follow back people who seem to have similar interests.
Here are a few I selected that led to others:
@freespeechtv.bsky.social
@altyellonatpark.org (Yellowstone National Park info)
@worldofart.bsky.social (art, poems)
@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social (same Betty Bowers we see posted here sometimes)
@emptywheel.bsky.social (same emptywheel posts we see here)
@aoc.bsky.social (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)

They also have these 'starter packs' which is basically a list of people with similar interests, and you can follow just some of them, or all at once.

So I like Molly Jong Fast, and when I followed her, it led to a lot of other people that I also wanted to follow. I think I used one starter pack, and in the last (month?) my feed now is very busy. So busy that I can't keep up, so to deal with that, I start to unfollow people who's posts I'm not too interested in.

I also am very interested in what is going on in Ukraine, and there is so much good information there.

What to look out for: Fake accounts. Like is that really AOC? I don't see any verification blue check like there was on twitter, but I'm pretty sure that is the real AOC account (based on what is being posted by her). I did like some things said by someone who's user name is Barbara Streisand (but I don't really think that is her), but this person was posting info about the LA fires, and who knows.

The thing I like the most is, if you see someone posting hateful or MAGA BS, you just block them. I haven't seen too much of that, but some other people who are famous (Jeff Tiedrich @jefftiedrich.bsky.social) for instance.

The thing I like the least: There is a Chat feature, which is GREAT because that is how I will keep in touch with my actual friends (and one of the things I might miss on facebook), however, you have to be on-guard.

Anyone who follows you, and immediately wants to start a chat with you, is most likely a scammer. I got a bunch of people from Gambia (Africa) following me. Maybe Gambia is the new Nigerian scammers. I just ignore these chats and I don't even reply. Then there are the ones who's game is .... what do they call it, cat-fishing? I just ignore those kinds of chats.

In only a month, apparently there are over 300 people following me (why? I have no idea), it just seems weird to me. I only block people who say things I don't like, or if they look like they just want to sell me bitcoin or some such BS.

Anyway, I hope some of this helps. Have fun with it, if you can.

[Nictuku]

2. What I need is a replacement for Amazon

If it was just buying things and getting them shipped, I think I could manage. Costco, and other stores. But what I think I will miss the most is all the stuff that I now get through Prime (video)

My mom loves her Acorn TV, and some other British channels we subscribe to. And we both watch some things that are free with prime. Since we don't go out all that much any more, entertainment in the home is our biggest expense. We do have Hulu, Disney+ (some kind of bundle), I pay for HBO and Starz (tomorrow Outlander season finale!!!), I also have DirecTV.

At some point I'd like to get rid of that. I find myself watching fewer things on it, but mom still wants her World News with David Muir, and she is still watching cable news. I just can't stomach it.

I just wish there was a company that was as convenient as Amazon out there, I'd switch in a minute. It may be a slow separation, but eventually, I just can't stomach making Bezos even more rich.

It is a 30 minute mountain drive to town, and so ordering things from Amazon has been so convenient for us. I only go to town once a month if I can help it.

[CentralMass]

6. I like Prime as well but I am considering dropping it.

[sunflowerseed]

11. Dumb ole wallmart has online shopping

[Nictuku]

25. I'm not thrilled with Wallmart policies

I don't shop at the one we have in town, but there are others that do ship, like Costco (they just don't have everything under the sun like Amazon did). I'm going to have to adjust.

I do my food shopping in person mostly at Trader Joes, and Safeway (where my pharmacy is)

[Bluetus]

30. I suggest not trying to 100% cold turkey Amazon

There are many things that simply can't be found in any reliable way elsewhere. And for those things, you should not feel guilty about using Amazon a little.

Think about getting > 90% of what you might order on Amazon by patronizing other companies. FOr tech stuff, I like NewEgg and BH Photo. Target is good. I am sure others are coming up to speed with online orders and logistics. I get many things from eBay. You have to be careful, but there are many liquidators who have essentially new goods available at about half the retail price. And I occasionally use Etsy, which is powered by Shopify. That's a good system

And unless you are really addicted to the streaming programs exclusive to Prime, don't pay for Prime. With a little planning, you can handle just about everything with free shipping without Prime.

[obamanut2012]

32. We are doing the same

And, set up subscriptions directly with Lavazza, our protein powder folks, etc.

[Scrivener7]

39. Lavazza was my stumbling block at Amazon too!

But I cancelled the subscription and I'm out now.

[Lulu KC]

34. For ordering things

I order what I can from Target. It always arrives faster than they say it will.
I also enjoy some of the videos that are available through Prime.
A lot of Acorn things are available for nothing through our library. Now it's through Hoopla; they used to have Kanopy, also good.

When my annual Prime membership ended I just signed up for the one month subscription. They keep telling me I'll save $40 over the year if I make it annual, but I'm not planning to make it annual. Every month I find some new ways to avoid Amazon.

But there are some things that are hard to find without driving all over town and Amazon can have it here in the morning. That's where I'm stuck. I'm just trying to plan better and do it less and less.

They really got us stuck during the COVID lockdown.

[thinkingagain]

37. I recommend checking out Roku

Currently everything I watch is free
But for a few you can add all or most of those channels you mentioned.

And I believe ABC with David is free !

It’s all apps within an app

A little more complicated then switching the channel with direct
But since I have them up nearly a year ago
I have not regretted it yet.

Amazon for products is a little harder
For me as when I check other sites they don’t always have what I’m needed or it is a bit more
But I am doing more price checks with places that ship
As sometimes walking for shopping is hard for me

[Southern_gent]

42. Roku is run by a republican

https://www.influencewatch.org/person/anthony-wood/

Roku is owned by Anthony Wood who is republican and donates almost exclusively to republicans



“Most of Wood’s political donations are in support Republican Party causes and candidates. In the 2022 midterms, Wood was a supporter of the National Republican Congressional Committee party committee and the conservative super PACs Take Back the House 2022, Senate Leadership Fund, and Protect Ohio Values PAC. Nearly all his individual candidate donations were to Republicans.”

[Scrivener7]

38. Editing! Someone already suggested Roku. I'll just add that it works

great even for a tech moron like me.

And they usually run good specials at the holidays where you can get premium channels for almost nothing.

[Skittles]

3. email, phone, text

I've never used FB and I "keep up with friends and family" just fine. I generally don't need to know what they do day to day or what they had for dinner.

[NewHendoLib]

13. This!

[Skittles]

16. I grew up as a GI brat

half my family was overseas so when we went overseas I was always away from half the family for four years - no internet back then and transatlantic calls were too expensive.....I used to draw my hand on the back of a snail mail envelope so my grandmas could "see" me growing - during the pandemic I thought it was bit much, people whining about not being able to see people when they could literally see them on their phone.....and the angst over fascist FB, as if there is simply is no other way to communicate

[Nictuku]

26. Yes, but people move, change phone numbers

I had also moved quite a bit, and through facebook I was able to rekindle at least 10 relationships in my life that I had lost track of, including my own half-brother. He was the only way I would even know that my father had died. (I don't know that side of the family, as my parents divorced when I was a baby. I 'found' my father when I was 18 and visited twice, but after that, he moved and I didn't have his number any more.

Anyway, like all things, there are good and bad. Good thing this is a Free Country and we can pretty much make our own choices about what we do, learn, and see.

[Skittles]

28. I never lived anywhere over 22 months until I left the military at 22

and half my family is OVERSEAS

long lost people have either found me or I have found them

all without fascist FB

it CAN be done - people just want it to be easy

over and OUT

[Nictuku]

31. and .... how do you KNOW if someone failed to find you?

How many times have you wondered what ever happened to this guy or that girl?

facebook had a good purpose, it was pretty cool at first. But now, with all the algorithms and advertising, it has become another animal.

[Skittles]

33. I think of all the people I would WANT to know

and I've accounted for them

THAT'S HOW

FUCK FACEBOOK

[Nictuku]

35. I sense anger.... maybe it is the all caps

and here I thought we were having a civil discussion about current events where different people share their different experiences.

Thanks for the advice. So noted.

[Skittles]

36. LOL

no, you're advocating for FACEBOOK

and I say, FUCK THAT
'
*DONE HERE*

[Nictuku]

41. What? I'm DELETING my acct on 1/20, how is that advocating?

[morillon]

4. I'm experimenting with Fediverse alternatives

Mastodon has a couple of features that can kind of simulate a friends list. You can set your profile so that followers have to be approved. That way, you only have the followers you want. Then, on each post, you can set it to public, followers only, or mentioned people only. I just tested this. If I make a public post, I can see it from an Incognito window or without being logged in. If I set a post to followers only, I can no longer see it in that mode.

Friendica has even more features for building circles of friends. It doesn't have as many users as Mastodon, but that could change with the increased interest in Facebook alternatives. You can still see posts across the two federated platforms, though.

[Captain Stern]

5. Maybe Google+ should make another try. I'd join. n/t

[BadgerKid]

19. Consider Duck Duck Go for nontracked searching.

[Scrivener7]

40. I've used it for years. Works just as well as google.

[WVGal1963]

8. Such a good question and discussion!

I am struggling with this very thing. My personal FB is not of any great importance to me, but my business FB is a huge game changer! I’m a small retailer in rural WV and FB and IG are of tremendous importance……I’m not sure I would still be in business at this point without them. Social media is free, it’s visual, it’s a way customers communicate with us, it’s a BIG part of our operations at this point. We have a huge following, too. Dang. It’s such a hard call.

As for a replacement, I know of none. I’m always on DU and I have joined BSky but these have nothing to do with my company.

I employ 10 people and every single one of them depends on the paycheck. Every. Single. One. And we’re a cool tribe with an even cooler vibe - -not a single Trumper in the group. So I’ll continue to utilize FB for business growth and to protect my amazing store family.

If anyone in my spot has suggestions, though, I am all ears!!

[LearnedHand]

9. How do you use FB?

If you describe what FB features you like and wish to replicate, that helps a lot with identifying alternatives.

Lots of high school kids, e.g., keep an old-school running convo in a Google doc. They use this as a more controlled social media-type exchange. You're notified when someone posts, you can keep or delete the doc, and it supports pasting pics into the doc.

[CentralMass]

14. I use it just to keep in touch with family and friends The question was mire about a replacement that allow

for an easy transition that would be easy and appealing v to current FB users.

[Shermann]

10. Bring back Myspace and/or band websites! nt

Bands these days often have crappy websites and put their latest content of FB. I can't abide that.

[mcar]

12. This is a good question

Through Facebook, I am able to keep in touch with my many cousins, and childhood friends. Including one whose home barely survived the Pacific Palisades fire.

I have a ridiculous amount of cousins and those old friends I (honestly) wouldn't get on the phone with, but I want to know what is going on in their lives. Ditto they me. Since the vast majority of them are Democrats, it's a lifeline for me too.

I also live in a red county of FL and it's a good way to keep up with my Blue friends here.

It is a challenge. I've deleted Twitter, Threads, Instagram. I'm still on Amazon but I'm starting to shift more to Target, now that we finally have one here. I use a Kindle, but borrow a lot of ebooks from my local library.

I think we should do what we can and not feel guilty about the rest.

[LeftInTX]

15. A friend of mine said to hide ad posts. They often say "Follow" on them. My cousin is boycotting for a week.

I might as well boycott for a week because sometimes I don't log on for a week anyway.

[mcar]

17. I'm going to stay off next week

And not bit anything online either.

[Nictuku]

27. I'll have to look into Target

I'm basing a lot on whether companies are pulling back on DEI. If there is another choice, I'll go there. (I really freaking hate racism)

[tritsofme]

18. If your goal is to keep up with family, friends, and acquaintances, it doesn't exist.

At least not today.

[VBNMW]

21. Be serious

So before Facebook friends and family were perpetually estranged? If one can’t maintain social connections without Facebook, Facebook may be the least of their problems.

[tritsofme]

22. Be serious yourself. Replace the word Facebook with "telephone"

and the little rant sounds incredibly silly.

You might not think that connecting with old friends and acquaintances that you would have otherwise lost touch with is worthwhile, but you don’t get to decide that for everyone else.

[CentralMass]

23. Who died and made you the arbiter of how people keep in touch with each other ?

[VBNMW]

20. Yeah

Going outside in real life if possible. FaceTime real people if not possible.

[Nictuku]

29. Sure, if I was 20 again

You may realize how difficult it is to make new friends the older you get.

I don't necessarily even want new friends. Staying in touch with the (around 100) or so people that I knew along my life growing up is a good thing. Fortunately, everyone that I want to keep in contact with, I recently made sure I had their contact info, should I ever be traveling in their part of the world again.

Think about a life of 60+ years, and all the many various people you meet along the way. There is no way to stay in constant touch, but facebook was a really good way to centralize a way of reaching out to someone, or to say hi, happy birthday, merry christmas, etc.

My mom (83 years) still keeps a hand written address book. It has so many crossed out numbers and new numbers added. Nowadays, people rely on their electronic contact lists (I know I do), but what if someone hacked my account and changed my password and there was nothing that Apple could do about it?

No perfect solution, we all just need to find out what works for us, individually, and stay on guard against Billionaires taking over the individual decisions.

facebook is not exactly free. You pay with your eyeballs and attention on all their advertising. That is why I want to quit facebook, I see mostly ads/sponsored/suggested for you stuff and hardly anything from my actual friends. So at this point, I want to take my eyeballs back (because I also hate ads) and put my attention to things more worthy of it.