Facebook is NOT

Before we commence with the list of things Facebook is not, let me say that Facebook IS a lot of things. Facebook is a way to connect with people you would have lost touch with otherwise. Facebook allows you to share life with those who live far away. Facebook lets you go back and see a history of where you've been, what you've seen and how you felt. Facebook gets a message or product in front of a maximum amount of people. Facebook is a tool that, when used properly, can be of great value personally, professionally and individually.

That being said...Facebook is NOT...

Confidential - What you say can AND WILL be used against you.

Neutral - Everyone doesn't agree with your opinion, nor are they obligated to remain an unbiased observer. When you clicked "post" you invited the opinions, critiques and rants of others. If you need to vent without response, may I recommend you get a dog?

Always Kind - There are times, yes, that comments are to encourage or uplift. More often, though, what others have to say creates more harm than help. Their suggestions make you doubt your ability to decide. Their disagreements further your insecurities.

Therapy - The point of voicing your hurts and fears in a counseling session is to shed light on a problem and receive valuable (trained) advice on what steps need to be taken to better the situation. The release of pain does not come from merely saying the words but doing the suggested work alongside a professional. Airing your deepest feelings on Facebook accomplishes none of that. You may say it, but that's not where the healing comes from and the feedback you get will rarely be advisable and often more painful.

Private - EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT. Yes, you wanted to share the picture of your kid on the toilet with all the grandparents and your friend in another state. Yes, it may have been faster to post it than send it privately. Yes, I'm sure it was hilarious. But EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT. No matter how strong your security or privacy settings, Facebook is on the internet. Unless you can write computer code faster than Mark Zuckerberg, you just shared a naked picture of your child where people who have less than admirable intentions have access to it.

That brings me to...Facebook is NOT...

Temporary - Once you post it, you can't unpost it. Once it's said, you can't unsay it. Those pictures will be there for anyone to see - FOREVER - including your child who won't always be 2 and at 17 might not feel as strongly about how hilarious he looked sitting on the toilet.

Pretend - It's REAL. REAL people with REAL feelings are REALLY hurt when you say something unkind. I'm not speaking metaphorically; your kids REALLY will see those pictures. She REALLY will wonder why you tell her to dress modestly but let people she's never met see pictures of her without a shirt on. He REALLY will question if it's better to act respectfully when, to get a laugh, you tell the world every time he misbehaves. Protecting our kids is a full time job and they need us to keep them safe in cyberspace just as diligently as we inspect carseats and food labels.

Necessary - Am I saying we should all go delete our accounts? No. What I'm saying is that if no one comments on your post it doesn't make your thought less valid or your feeling less real. If someone disagrees it doesn't make you wrong. If someone agrees it doesn't make you right.

I hope it goes without saying, but I don't just mean Facebook. I mean Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest and whatever else there is that I don't even know the name of. 

So what did I miss? What else is social media NOT?