Is Facebook a Waste of Time?

Jeffery Zeldman seems to think so. He thinks that Facebook is just another way for blowing “off work you should be doing.” I think he may be partially right. I have spent so much time in the past week playing addictive games on Facebook, that productivity has decreased significantly. I have been working long hours but much of that is due to the fact that so many hours have been wasted on Facebook.

While Facebook is probably the best social network for maintaining relationships, I am starting to see a value behind a site like LinkedIn. Holding true to the KISS model (keep it simple stupid), LinkedIn provides me with little distraction items. On the other hand, I log in to Facebook and am immediately sucked in by my hundreds of friends who are constantly updating their profiles. Then to get a break from my quick update on friendly news, I click on one of the games that I have installed on my account.

What’s funny though is that most of the time people seem to be spending on Facebook (let alone the internet) are on tools that allow them to waste time. Perhaps this is why Facebook will continue to be successful. Are you spending most of your time on Facebook on addictive games or are you actually being productive?

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45824 CommentsIs+Facebook+a+Waste+of+Time%3F2007-09-19+14%3A02%3A35Nick+O%27Neill »

If productivity and networking is your way of fun then Facebook is the ultimate social and business tool.If you're easily sucked into the addictiveness of social interactivity, then companies are doing the right thing by at least policing the user behaviour and access.Smart companies know how to make Facebook and the likes work for them.However, purely business oriented, Linked-In is tops.

Comment by Henre — September 19, 2007 @ 6:34 am
I have this argument with folks on a regular basis (particularly around the question: "Should Facebook be blocked in offices and classrooms?") The truth is that, yes, Facebook is a major time wasting culprit. But the fact is that, if you eliminate Facebook from the menu, Internet users prone to wasting time will simply waste it elsewhere (news reading, blogging, shopping, fantasy sports, the list goes on so name your flavor). I take a few proactive steps in managing my Facebook account that serve the dual role of reducing wasted time and presenting a clean and desirable "online identity": ~Only join FB groups that offer some professional or constructive utility, or that have a sentimental value. This keeps me away from "If 1,000,000 people join this groups" and helps me stay focused on my life, my work, and my friends.~Avoid games and "glamor" third party apps. Facebook is distracting enough as it is. Games may be a fun diversion, but they distract from the real purpose of the site, which is to help you cultivate and nurture meaningful connections. The same goes for the "glamor" apps; why spend time decorating my profile or rating my friends when I can actually have real conversations with them about their photos, upcoming events… in a word, their lives.~Steer serious message traffic to my email. This one is pretty simple; if you have to hop on Facebook to deal with serious productive email, you probably are going to be diverted by the latest Free Gift you've been sent.Everything said, yeah, I waste time on Facebook. But, at the very least, I try to make that "wasted time" productive in the sense that it focuses on people I care about, both personally and professionally. There is more value in that than you may realize.

Comment by Andrew Welch — September 19, 2007 @ 6:54 am
If productivity and networking is your way of fun then Facebook is the ultimate social and business tool.

If you're easily sucked into the addictiveness of social interactivity, then companies are doing the right thing by at least policing the user behaviour and access.

Smart companies know how to make Facebook and the likes work for them.

However, purely business oriented, Linked-In is tops.

Comment by Henre — September 19, 2007 @ 7:34 am
I have this argument with folks on a regular basis (particularly around the question: "Should Facebook be blocked in offices and classrooms?") The truth is that, yes, Facebook is a major time wasting culprit. But the fact is that, if you eliminate Facebook from the menu, Internet users prone to wasting time will simply waste it elsewhere (news reading, blogging, shopping, fantasy sports, the list goes on so name your flavor).

I take a few proactive steps in managing my Facebook account that serve the dual role of reducing wasted time and presenting a clean and desirable "online identity":

~Only join FB groups that offer some professional or constructive utility, or that have a sentimental value. This keeps me away from "If 1,000,000 people join this groups" and helps me stay focused on my life, my work, and my friends.

~Avoid games and "glamor" third party apps. Facebook is distracting enough as it is. Games may be a fun diversion, but they distract from the real purpose of the site, which is to help you cultivate and nurture meaningful connections. The same goes for the "glamor" apps; why spend time decorating my profile or rating my friends when I can actually have real conversations with them about their photos, upcoming events… in a word, their lives.

~Steer serious message traffic to my email. This one is pretty simple; if you have to hop on Facebook to deal with serious productive email, you probably are going to be diverted by the latest Free Gift you've been sent.

Everything said, yeah, I waste time on Facebook. But, at the very least, I try to make that "wasted time" productive in the sense that it focuses on people I care about, both personally and professionally. There is more value in that than you may realize.

Comment by Andrew Welch — September 19, 2007 @ 7:54 am
[...] just be a gigantic way to be unproductive.Â Web standards luminaryÂ Jeffrey Zeldman and even Facebook app consultant/self-proclaimed Facebook addict Nick O’Neill haveÂ admitted to its unproductive [...]

Pingback by If Facebook Just Wastes Time, Can’t It Be Easily Replaced? « Oatmeal Stout - Justin Thorp’s Web 2.0 blog — September 19, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
When I am on facebook I don't waste any time really. I look to go on there and network with other like minded indivudials. I talk about this on my blog. Just because of facebook I have met some of the most awesome people….Have gotten speakers for the entrepreneur society here at Boston College, as well as have made friendships that will last a lifetime! I don't know what I would do without web 2.0!

Comment by Scott Bradley — September 21, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
When I am on facebook I don’t waste any time really. I look to go on there and network with other like minded indivudials. I talk about this on my blog. Just because of facebook I have met some of the most awesome people….Have gotten speakers for the entrepreneur society here at Boston College, as well as have made friendships that will last a lifetime! I don’t know what I would do without web 2.0!

Comment by Scott Bradley — September 21, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
[...] just be a gigantic way to be unproductive.Â Web standards luminaryÂ Jeffrey Zeldman and even Facebook app consultant/self-proclaimed Facebook addict Nick Oâ€™Neill haveÂ admitted to its unproductive [...]

Pingback by If Facebook Just Wastes Time, Canâ€™t It Be Easily Replaced? — September 25, 2007 @ 12:11 am
Pushed into joining Facebook 4 days ago and unsuscribed today.

Total waste of time, inane, trivial, bolony, linking with so called friends I don't know, never met and whose boring lives they can't wait to share with you.

I have no wish to share my boring life with any of them.

Anything I wish to share can be achieved via e-mails and on line photo albums.

Comment by Pilar Peon — July 23, 2009 @ 10:23 am
Facebook is a waste of life.

Comment by Manny — November 4, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
I nearly wanna kill the creator. i do. NERDY RETARDED MESSY SHIT.

Comment by HAL — November 4, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Yes ..

Comment by Sheena — February 17, 2010 @ 7:43 am
Facebook isnt a waste of time…. Facebook is the SHIT!!!

Comment by Ditch — February 17, 2010 @ 7:50 am
Facebook is a waste of time and your life . As im writing a speech about this , i get ditracted by facebook .

Comment by Sheena — February 17, 2010 @ 1:16 pm
um..here's an outside the box solution, dont waste time on facebook that precious tiem could be spent on so many better things. for example i quit facebook last summer and went from 210 lbs to 165lbs by excercsing and working out

Comment by chris — March 18, 2010 @ 10:07 pm
All I’ve gotten out of FB is more than I want to know about the toilet habits of little babies, how cute everyone’s kids are, the sex lives of many twenty somethings, and all the whining and bitching about really important things like the heat, no date tonight, the plight of gay friends, the plight of straight friends, and “I hate my boss.” Absolutely nothing of significance. I’m very close to closing my account.

Comment by Mike Fenton — April 9, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
I thinks it's waste of life. Who really has a 1000 friends? The best way too keep in touch is making a phone call or text messaging. People that keep in touch that way are your true friends. When someone adds you as a friend and never talks too you that is not a friend. I liked it when I didn't have. It was one less thing to worry about.

Comment by Bryan — June 9, 2010 @ 11:17 am
I personally think it is a waste of time and dangerous. I've lost so many friends as a result of Facebook; so I found it quite counter-productive. Facebook would very often delete my posts, statuses, friends, networks, etc. I decided to start up a new account, but the problems persisted. A girl I knew totally freaked out at me because she wasn't on my friend list anymore and I didn't even delete her; I work full-time and don't have the time to deal with it, so I just got rid of it. So, Facebook is not for me, but others can find it useful; I can't speak for all. If you like Facebook, start up an account…if you don't, delete your account or just don't start one up.

Comment by Rachael — June 17, 2010 @ 4:16 pm
Facebook can be painful, i have very few friends… all are on facebook but:

1. Some never log in and when they do, any message i have left always goes unanswered…

2. Have not got it together to accept my invitation

These sites are intended to make socializing easier, but i cannot even find my old school (it does not exist), most people from my past i cannot find on there… either computer phobic and/or have the sense to know that the whole concept is a waste of time.

Facebook generally is for people that are fortunate to live within close proximity of lots of acquaintances and at best a few friends… but for others it can be a huge waste of time and aren't many of us guilty for just wanting to be noticed? Liked even?

Facebook can be extremely counterproductive to ones own self esteem, i actually feel LONELIER using the sites, whole photo albums posted yet no a single comment, people are too wrapped up in themselves to engage in others preferred music tastes, film etc…

They say in real life sharing your holiday snaps around bores people rigid, so why should your prized perfect photo of your cat be of interest to anyone?

Facebook is for the younger generation, school kids and college students that lead existing busy social lives, as for me, it has left me feeling like i have no life…

High time i got out into the real world and made a real effort to be friendly, who really wants a virtual bunny and cocktail anyway?

Sad and a real waste of real life, even if the 'fun' side of it is very addictive.

Comment by Joe — June 21, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Tired of the vanity of it all and the waste of time…not really caring about people bitching and complaining or bragging anymore. I got caught up in it just like everyone else but it's kind of brainless and fills your head with way too much information. Just overkill. It's such a self centered atmosphere and half the people on there I want to take off so instead of doing that as to avoid conflict I either deactivate or just lock everything so if someone really wants to get in touch and doesn't have my email they can send a message.

Comment by Lisa — July 11, 2010 @ 3:00 am
Probably depends on what it means to be productive, huh?

Comment by Jeff Goins — March 15, 2011 @ 7:22 pm
Facebook is a waste of time!

Comment by Jacob — March 19, 2011 @ 9:48 am
penis

Comment by Penis — April 17, 2011 @ 4:35 pm
Most of the comments I've read about Facebook confirm what I suspected shortly after being bullied into opening a Facebook account for the imagined purpose of promoting my business. Perhaps there IS a way Facebook can do that, but I've not found it yet. So far, the only legitimate use I see for Facebook is to help comatose patients pass the time. Then again, I suppose it could also serve as a legal and relatively painless form of euthanasia.

Comment by Frank Lurz — August 2, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

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If productivity and networking is your way of fun then Facebook is the ultimate social and business tool.If you're easily sucked into the addictiveness of social interactivity, then companies are doing the right thing by at least policing the user behaviour and access.Smart companies know how to make Facebook and the likes work for them.However, purely business oriented, Linked-In is tops.

Comment by Henre — September 19, 2007 @ 6:34 am

I have this argument with folks on a regular basis (particularly around the question: "Should Facebook be blocked in offices and classrooms?") The truth is that, yes, Facebook is a major time wasting culprit. But the fact is that, if you eliminate Facebook from the menu, Internet users prone to wasting time will simply waste it elsewhere (news reading, blogging, shopping, fantasy sports, the list goes on so name your flavor). I take a few proactive steps in managing my Facebook account that serve the dual role of reducing wasted time and presenting a clean and desirable "online identity": ~Only join FB groups that offer some professional or constructive utility, or that have a sentimental value. This keeps me away from "If 1,000,000 people join this groups" and helps me stay focused on my life, my work, and my friends.~Avoid games and "glamor" third party apps. Facebook is distracting enough as it is. Games may be a fun diversion, but they distract from the real purpose of the site, which is to help you cultivate and nurture meaningful connections. The same goes for the "glamor" apps; why spend time decorating my profile or rating my friends when I can actually have real conversations with them about their photos, upcoming events… in a word, their lives.~Steer serious message traffic to my email. This one is pretty simple; if you have to hop on Facebook to deal with serious productive email, you probably are going to be diverted by the latest Free Gift you've been sent.Everything said, yeah, I waste time on Facebook. But, at the very least, I try to make that "wasted time" productive in the sense that it focuses on people I care about, both personally and professionally. There is more value in that than you may realize.

Comment by Andrew Welch — September 19, 2007 @ 6:54 am

If productivity and networking is your way of fun then Facebook is the ultimate social and business tool.

If you're easily sucked into the addictiveness of social interactivity, then companies are doing the right thing by at least policing the user behaviour and access.

Smart companies know how to make Facebook and the likes work for them.

However, purely business oriented, Linked-In is tops.

Comment by Henre — September 19, 2007 @ 7:34 am

I take a few proactive steps in managing my Facebook account that serve the dual role of reducing wasted time and presenting a clean and desirable "online identity":

~Only join FB groups that offer some professional or constructive utility, or that have a sentimental value. This keeps me away from "If 1,000,000 people join this groups" and helps me stay focused on my life, my work, and my friends.

~Avoid games and "glamor" third party apps. Facebook is distracting enough as it is. Games may be a fun diversion, but they distract from the real purpose of the site, which is to help you cultivate and nurture meaningful connections. The same goes for the "glamor" apps; why spend time decorating my profile or rating my friends when I can actually have real conversations with them about their photos, upcoming events… in a word, their lives.

~Steer serious message traffic to my email. This one is pretty simple; if you have to hop on Facebook to deal with serious productive email, you probably are going to be diverted by the latest Free Gift you've been sent.

Everything said, yeah, I waste time on Facebook. But, at the very least, I try to make that "wasted time" productive in the sense that it focuses on people I care about, both personally and professionally. There is more value in that than you may realize.

Comment by Andrew Welch — September 19, 2007 @ 7:54 am

[...] just be a gigantic way to be unproductive.Â Web standards luminaryÂ Jeffrey Zeldman and even Facebook app consultant/self-proclaimed Facebook addict Nick O’Neill haveÂ admitted to its unproductive [...]

Pingback by If Facebook Just Wastes Time, Can’t It Be Easily Replaced? « Oatmeal Stout - Justin Thorp’s Web 2.0 blog — September 19, 2007 @ 7:16 pm

When I am on facebook I don't waste any time really. I look to go on there and network with other like minded indivudials. I talk about this on my blog. Just because of facebook I have met some of the most awesome people….Have gotten speakers for the entrepreneur society here at Boston College, as well as have made friendships that will last a lifetime! I don't know what I would do without web 2.0!

Comment by Scott Bradley — September 21, 2007 @ 2:00 pm

When I am on facebook I don’t waste any time really. I look to go on there and network with other like minded indivudials. I talk about this on my blog. Just because of facebook I have met some of the most awesome people….Have gotten speakers for the entrepreneur society here at Boston College, as well as have made friendships that will last a lifetime! I don’t know what I would do without web 2.0!

Comment by Scott Bradley — September 21, 2007 @ 6:00 pm

[...] just be a gigantic way to be unproductive.Â Web standards luminaryÂ Jeffrey Zeldman and even Facebook app consultant/self-proclaimed Facebook addict Nick Oâ€™Neill haveÂ admitted to its unproductive [...]

Pingback by If Facebook Just Wastes Time, Canâ€™t It Be Easily Replaced? — September 25, 2007 @ 12:11 am

Pushed into joining Facebook 4 days ago and unsuscribed today.

Total waste of time, inane, trivial, bolony, linking with so called friends I don't know, never met and whose boring lives they can't wait to share with you.

I have no wish to share my boring life with any of them.

Anything I wish to share can be achieved via e-mails and on line photo albums.

Comment by Pilar Peon — July 23, 2009 @ 10:23 am

Facebook is a waste of life.

Comment by Manny — November 4, 2009 @ 7:27 pm

I nearly wanna kill the creator. i do. NERDY RETARDED MESSY SHIT.

Comment by HAL — November 4, 2009 @ 7:29 pm

Yes ..

Comment by Sheena — February 17, 2010 @ 7:43 am

Facebook isnt a waste of time…. Facebook is the SHIT!!!

Comment by Ditch — February 17, 2010 @ 7:50 am

Facebook is a waste of time and your life . As im writing a speech about this , i get ditracted by facebook .

Comment by Sheena — February 17, 2010 @ 1:16 pm

um..here's an outside the box solution, dont waste time on facebook that precious tiem could be spent on so many better things. for example i quit facebook last summer and went from 210 lbs to 165lbs by excercsing and working out

Comment by chris — March 18, 2010 @ 10:07 pm

All I’ve gotten out of FB is more than I want to know about the toilet habits of little babies, how cute everyone’s kids are, the sex lives of many twenty somethings, and all the whining and bitching about really important things like the heat, no date tonight, the plight of gay friends, the plight of straight friends, and “I hate my boss.” Absolutely nothing of significance. I’m very close to closing my account.

Comment by Mike Fenton — April 9, 2010 @ 1:49 pm

I thinks it's waste of life. Who really has a 1000 friends? The best way too keep in touch is making a phone call or text messaging. People that keep in touch that way are your true friends. When someone adds you as a friend and never talks too you that is not a friend. I liked it when I didn't have. It was one less thing to worry about.

Comment by Bryan — June 9, 2010 @ 11:17 am

I personally think it is a waste of time and dangerous. I've lost so many friends as a result of Facebook; so I found it quite counter-productive. Facebook would very often delete my posts, statuses, friends, networks, etc. I decided to start up a new account, but the problems persisted. A girl I knew totally freaked out at me because she wasn't on my friend list anymore and I didn't even delete her; I work full-time and don't have the time to deal with it, so I just got rid of it. So, Facebook is not for me, but others can find it useful; I can't speak for all. If you like Facebook, start up an account…if you don't, delete your account or just don't start one up.

Comment by Rachael — June 17, 2010 @ 4:16 pm

Facebook can be painful, i have very few friends… all are on facebook but:

1. Some never log in and when they do, any message i have left always goes unanswered…

2. Have not got it together to accept my invitation

These sites are intended to make socializing easier, but i cannot even find my old school (it does not exist), most people from my past i cannot find on there… either computer phobic and/or have the sense to know that the whole concept is a waste of time.

Facebook generally is for people that are fortunate to live within close proximity of lots of acquaintances and at best a few friends… but for others it can be a huge waste of time and aren't many of us guilty for just wanting to be noticed? Liked even?

Facebook can be extremely counterproductive to ones own self esteem, i actually feel LONELIER using the sites, whole photo albums posted yet no a single comment, people are too wrapped up in themselves to engage in others preferred music tastes, film etc…

They say in real life sharing your holiday snaps around bores people rigid, so why should your prized perfect photo of your cat be of interest to anyone?

Facebook is for the younger generation, school kids and college students that lead existing busy social lives, as for me, it has left me feeling like i have no life…

High time i got out into the real world and made a real effort to be friendly, who really wants a virtual bunny and cocktail anyway?

Sad and a real waste of real life, even if the 'fun' side of it is very addictive.

Comment by Joe — June 21, 2010 @ 2:51 pm

Tired of the vanity of it all and the waste of time…not really caring about people bitching and complaining or bragging anymore. I got caught up in it just like everyone else but it's kind of brainless and fills your head with way too much information. Just overkill. It's such a self centered atmosphere and half the people on there I want to take off so instead of doing that as to avoid conflict I either deactivate or just lock everything so if someone really wants to get in touch and doesn't have my email they can send a message.

Comment by Lisa — July 11, 2010 @ 3:00 am

Probably depends on what it means to be productive, huh?

Comment by Jeff Goins — March 15, 2011 @ 7:22 pm

Facebook is a waste of time!

Comment by Jacob — March 19, 2011 @ 9:48 am

penis

Comment by Penis — April 17, 2011 @ 4:35 pm

Most of the comments I've read about Facebook confirm what I suspected shortly after being bullied into opening a Facebook account for the imagined purpose of promoting my business. Perhaps there IS a way Facebook can do that, but I've not found it yet. So far, the only legitimate use I see for Facebook is to help comatose patients pass the time. Then again, I suppose it could also serve as a legal and relatively painless form of euthanasia.

Comment by Frank Lurz — August 2, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

Welcome New Reader!

Is Facebook a Waste of Time?

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Welcome New Reader!

Is Facebook a Waste of Time?

Recommended Articles

Inside Social Apps 2012 is Less Than Two Weeks Away

45824 Commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2Fis-facebook-a-waste-of-time-2007-09Is+Facebook+a+Waste+of+Time%3F2007-09-19+14%3A02%3A35Nick+O%27Neillhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.allfacebook.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fis-facebook-a-waste-of-time%2F »

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Follow AllFacebook

Send us a Tip

Social Media Jobs

Let your next job find you!

Featured Company

Jobs of the Day

Digital Strategist

Digital/Social Media Manager - Entertainment

Social Media Coordinator

See all jobs

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45824 CommentsIs+Facebook+a+Waste+of+Time%3F2007-09-19+14%3A02%3A35Nick+O%27Neill »