To the editor:

As I often say (I’ve recently been told, “too often”), I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent person. I have a B.A. in English from Old Dominion University, and an M.A. in communication from Norfolk State University.

I’ve raised children who are able to function on their own and contribute to the community. I even worked more than a year as a newspaper columnist.

Now, depending on your field of employment it can be necessary to be on social media. However due to medical problems, I’m currently not working.

Therefore, I read books. I have Audible and Nook books. I go to the library. I do jigsaw and crossword puzzles. I do whatever I can to keep my mind occupied.

And, I’m also on Facebook — theoretically to keep up with family, and friends occasionally send me links to interesting stories or pictures.

However, I began to feel I was on Facebook a little too often. So I deactivated my account on Jan. 1. It’s only four days later, and it stresses me out every hour of every day that I might be missing something important. I literally reach for my phone every 15 minutes or so to check Facebook before I remember not to do so.

So obviously I was addicted — or actually, since it’s only been five days, I guess I should say I “am” addicted.

I know I’m going to successfully beat this addiction, because I’m going to engross myself in all the aforementioned activities I have to occupy myself.
It’s not as if I’m one of the original “Facebook generation.” I’m 54 years old. And I bet there are multitudes of people who are addicted to Facebook and don’t consider it an addiction.
As a side note, I’ve also decided to stop texting unless absolutely necessary, because you can’t hear tone or subtext in a text message — or worse, you imagine it’s there when it isn’t. Actually, face-to-face communication is best, because there’s nothing more telling than body language.
But, back to the matter at hand. Try conducting an experiment and honestly keep track of how much time you spend on Facebook (even if only for a few moments at a time) every day. I bet you’ll be surprised.
Who knows? If enough people abandon Facebook, maybe the art of letter writing will return.

Gia Sams

Suffolk