Hello friends, I’m leaving Facebook. I have hemmed and hawed over the prospect for years, always wanting to but never getting over my fears of missing out. Now, however, the time is clear to sunset this unique, yet outmoded, feature of my life; and Facebook really has been integral to my life for about fifteen years. Not only has it been a vital communication link to an extensive network of friends and colleagues, but I have used the platform as a professional tool. Over the years I curated a feed built around dozens of theatre companies and affiliated businesses, whose endeavors I wished to follow. My finger was on the pulse!
But now I reflect on the function it serves in my life, as I have transitioned to another realm of my career. I am no longer the hustling-at-all-costs, poor-starving-artist of my youth, with time to market myself on social media; now I am thirty-something with priorities that exceed “the next gig”. In turn, I no longer have spare mental space for a platform that no longer offers the robust network it once did. I have noticed this in recent years. The deep network I curated has become shallower and shallower. My friends and colleagues spend more time on Instagram, Discord, or Substack. I simply bookmark my favorite theatre companies and check out their websites for news. My career has outgrown Facebook and I’m left wondering, what then does it add to my life?
The answer is very little; in fact, it subtracts from my ability to focus on real-world priorities. I would love to eliminate the automated scrolling that happens whenever I have downtime. I would love to just be in the moment and sit with my thoughts. The subject of boredom fascinates me as a key element in the creative process; the more I read about it, the more I’m convinced of its power. Why would I sacrifice daydreaming for doom scrolling? Then too, let me state the obvious: Facebook is a wasteland of algorithmic slop bombarding me with inappropriate videos, ads, and discourse. It’s exhausting to navigate. As a parent too, I must lead by example and when that “downtime” arises, how can I spend those moments with my family?
My philosophy, therefore, will be more meaningful connection with my friends and colleagues. I’m a professional writer of plays and podcasts; I am drawn to deeper relationships than FB’s feed is capable of providing. I’d still like to stay in touch, of course, so if you feel the same you can follow me on Instagram (@vshannam). You can also subscribe to this website for professional updates. You can definitely follow Camp Kaiju: Monster Movie Podcast if that’s your jam. And of course, you can email me at vincenthannam@gmail.com or text me at 407-953-4061.
I believe there are more meaningful ways to stay in touch and I look forward to it. Cheers.
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VINCENT HANNAM 