A couple years ago, I deactivated my MySpace account, knowing that the site was consuming too much of my time. But it did not take too long for my friends to get me into Facebook, mainly by sending me e-mail requests (at least that was my excuse at the time).

The truth is that there is so much on these sites that makes it hard to ignore. People find new and old friends, quotes, videos, games, chatting and much more, so it is fun, I admit. But at times, some people forget that Facebook does not equal life. Yes, you know what I mean! There are people — and most of them students — who update their status every minute. When you look at their wall you see “I am at Starbucks,” minutes later, “Drinking latte with so and so,” later on “Tired today, going home,” and then “Taking a shower,” I mean come on, do I need to know that?

One may argue that the fault lies with the readers like myself because if we did not care what these “turbo-status-updaters” have to say, we would not look at any of that. But the truth is that whether you want to look at it or not, it is there in front of you, as soon as you log in. So perhaps it’s time to rethink your Facebook usage strategy.

I am on Facebook because of my friends, and because social networking sites have become the easiest way to keep in touch with friends and family. I am sure most of my friends are on Facebook because their friends are on it, and the cycle of excuses goes on. Why are you on Facebook? How much time do you spend on it?