Leaving Facebook? Just Ghost

Don’t announce your departure from a social platform. Just do it.

Here’s how modern etiquette says you should leave a party: with stealth and cunning. Don’t bother with the tedious goodbyes. There’s not a lot to be gained by harshing the vibe of a buzzy gathering with farewells. Just skedaddle.

This is even better advice when leaving a social network. Especially today, when so many Facebook feeds are awash in messages from people who are leaving the platform. That makes for a pretty lame party.

Of course, there are good reasons to leave a social platform. You might be concerned that using it is a form of addiction that’s best kicked. If you are indeed trying to kick the habit, just do it. Reading the responses to your goodbyes is exactly the endorphin hit you’re saying that you need to stop getting.

Or maybe you’re not addicted (uh huh right), and you’re leaving for another good reason, like in protest of the platform’s use or leakage of your data. In that case, why give them more by announcing your intention?

Either way, you’re dissing your remaining friends for staying. And your real friends (the ones you say you want to spend more time with) know how to reach you off of the platform; you don’t need to advertise your withdrawal.

Don’t ruin the party for everyone else. Just ghost.