My Name is Brie Engelken – and I’m a Facebook Addict

16 February 2010 | By Brie, Account Manager in jhP Family, Social Media

My Life Without Facebook

I’m Brie Engelken. I’m 23 years old and I’m a Facebook addict. Facebook began in February 2004 and by October I was an avid user. By May 2005 I was addicted – checking every hour I had access to a computer (this was before mobile web browsers took off!) just to see who was doing what, who broke up with who, and more importantly, who had scandalous pictures from last night’s big party.

Today, Facebook is a primary means of communication in my life, as well as the lives of my peers. I start my day at 5:00 a.m. every weekday morning and by 5:15 a.m. it’s fair to say I’ve checked the statuses I missed while sleeping. I log in when I get to work at 8:00 a.m. and keep a tab open all day, checking in regularly just to see what’s going on. I get home around 6:00 p.m. most nights and I’m logged back in by 6:30 p.m. with a window open until at least 11:00 p.m. that evening. It’s fair to say that I don’t miss much.

Starting at midnight on Wednesday, February 17th (tonight) I will be giving up Facebook as part of my sacrifice for Lent (I’m Roman Catholic). For 46 days I will journal my life without Facebook, and the challenges I encounter along the way. The only leniency I will have is the ability to go in and un-tag pictures, but I can’t waver from that page onto any other part of Facebook. Check back for weekly posts about my journey (aka Blast from the Past) leading up to a MAJOR gossip catch up at Midnight, April 3rd/4th.

Want to hold me accountable? Feel free to visit my Facebook profile and see my inactivity.

  • Laura Moore

    The first step to solving a problem is admitting you've got a problem. lmao Props to you for that! One question though- How will you know if there are pictures that you need to untag unless you log on?

  • http://tylermarion.com/ Tyler Marion

    Good Luck Brie this is going to be hard :)

  • Donna

    God by with you, my friend — I couldn't do it!!

  • Briena

    When someone tags a picture of you an email notification is sent.

  • http://www.BrandonSheley.org Brandon_Sheley

    Good luck Brie!

  • Laura Moore

    If something really really really needs to be changed, like if someone asks you to join something and you really want to, I'd be glad to get onto your account and do it for you :)

  • Darcee

    good luck honey! i think you shouldn't even check for pics and just go cold turkey :P

  • http://twitter.com/KalleOskar Carl Isaacson

    Shane sent me to your blog. Good luck on your commitment. It will be interesting to hear if you think your communication changes as you leave fb behind.