It's a stretch to call Facebook _essential_. If you're worrying about someone, pick up the phone. Using Facebook has its own heavy costs.

How do you keep track of the people -> current location mapping in your head? Are you going to suggest keeping a notebook for that?

I know where people live. I have a contacts list on my computer with phone numbers and email addresses. I don't use Facebook, WhatsApp, or any of those sites. There is a price for knowing exactly where everyone is at all times.

https://www.wired.com/story/our-minds-have-been-hijacked-by-...

There is also a price for knowing phone numbers and email addresses.

You can arguably do much more harm by utilizing a phone number and email address, compared to knowing which city someone lives in.

I don't see how, but if you feel so strongly about it you could put those cities in your address book as well.

It's still a huge stretch to call facebook essential. A growing number of peers and myself don't facebook, yet I don't know of anyone who has lost their home, job, and gone hungry because of it.

My social life and productivity have greatly improved since I quit Facebook. I also started to read more books, because my general concentration is returning.

Every time you read an algorithmic news feed, ask yourself, "is this more educational than reading a great book?" The answer will nearly always be no.

I'm referring to the huge cost of Facebook in productivity and cognitive functioning.

I don't think there is a price for knowing phone numbers and email addresses. It's much more harmful for Facebook to have my data than for people who I care about to have my phone number or email address. (My email addresses are public anyway.)

How is that essential? What are you going to do about it from wherever your remote location is?

Stress reduction.

The people I immediately care about being safe are people I can and will contact directly outside of Facebook. Everyone else, I’ll find out about eventually.