Use Facebook like A Buddhist, Don’t Let Facebook Use You
One take-away from the Buddhist Geek’s 2014 Convention in Boulder, Colorado was how contrary to mindfulness applications like Facebook can be. The merits of Facebook are plenty, but when allowed to dominate our attention, Facebook can diminish the present.
While I’ve written before praising Facebook, I go overboard with it sometimes and I know you do to. Most of us have wired the dopamine reward system of our brain to get a bite-sized thrill every time we see the color red in our notification area.
Facebook and other social media systems are designed to reprogram our dopamine reward system not because of some malevolent plan, but because social media companies are doing what businesses do–trying to maximize page views to maximize revenue.
The recommendations in this post are from my notes on discussions about Facebook from the 2014 Buddhist Geek’s Convention. I am still a long ways away from steering my own overuse and misuse of Facebook back to the center of the middle path, so this advice is as much something I need to work on as it is something I’m writing about.
When You Use Facebook, Use Facebook
Google Chrome allows me to have multiple tabs open. Which means, regardless of what I am doing online, I usually have Facebook open. In fact, I’m typing this article on Google Documents, and see there‘s a Facebook tab open right now. Okay, just closed it. We can move on.
The problem with leaving Facebook as an ever-open presence is that it programs you to feel like you are always on call. Facebook used between tasks or simultaneously with tasks disturbs the task at hand.
Facebook is much more rewarding when it is an immersive experience. If you set a certain time of day to go on Facebook, you end up having more rewarding chats with friends, since you are focused on the person you are communicating with.
Buddhism emphasizes the compassion of being one with others. By giving those you are Facebook-chatting with your full attention, you affirm their value. You are able to be mindful of them and present with them.
Turn off Pings From Facebook On Your Phone
Facebook is a great message device, but it can also be as intrusive as a doctor’s pager. Buddhism teaches value in an undisturbed presence of mind. This is why cell phones in the meditation center would be counter productive.
Use Facebook Like A Buddhist By Putting The Right Intentions Behind Your Presence On Facebook
A Buddhist community is known as a Sangha. The duty of a Buddhist to his Sangha is to help his community to the path of understanding and enlightenment. While social media is certainly never the most prominent or immediate Sangha in a Buddhist’s life, Facebook does represent a certain sort of Sangha and so a Buddhist must take into account what he shares and why. Three good questions to asks before posting are, “Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
Understand The Limitations Of Facebook
The research is out about the potential of social media and social change. Social media can amass weak-tie support while real, significant social change has been shown to rest on strong-tie bonds. A Buddhist goal is to see past illusions. Facebook should be recognized in it’s full context–its benefits acknowledged and its risks and drawbacks realized.
Use Facebook Like A Buddhist By Taking Time Away From Facebook
It is good to disconnect from our digital lives. I don’t do it enough. When I do, it’s rewarding and offers an important perspective.
Powering down the computer, shutting off your phone and spending a day with just the world can feel like coming off a drug. At first your attention is still waiting, thinking that at any moment your vibrating pocket could summon you out of this moment to one very far away. But soon the anticipation fades, then dies. When it has left, the world reemerges as it only does when you lend it your full attention and all five senses begin to notice and become apart of the wonderful reality of the present.
