The #deletefacebook trend is so, so ignorant about the vital and currently irreplaceable service Facebook has in rural areas.

Every time I see “I deleted Facebook and YOU SHOULD TOO” I want to scream.

I would love to delete Facebook. But out here in the country, Facebook is the entire internet.

It costs money to have your own website. Many businesses and organizations don’t have them out here. They have Facebook pages. Find a new place to cut your hair? Book appointment? Check hours of a restaurant? Get movie times at the local theater? All Facebook.

And don’t get me started on groups.

I don’t have any social outlets here. I have no friends. I’m not alone in this. But I have hobby and meme Facebook groups, which are some of the ONLY social outlets available to a person who doesn’t like high school football.

Local news updates are on Facebook. The health department’s most up to date info is there. No one uses Nextdoor; there are local Facebook groups. COVID mutual aid is on FB. Farmers, who are seeing NO ONE right now, can keep up w friends.

TL;DR: not everyone has the privilege of being able to cut the Facebook cord.