In a perfect world we would have the social plumbing without the psychological manipulation. But we're not, so here's how I've found how to make do with Facebook without it poisoning my brain. And yes I do benefit from it a lot, which is why I'm not leaving.
This is what my redux version of Facebook looks like, using custom uBlock filters - basically just news feed and notifications. Manages to eliminate ~90% of their manipulation attempts I reckon.
Other tips: unsubscribe from anything/one whose posts you don't want to see (sounds obvious if you're disciplined about this it makes a lot of difference), stick to messages only but inbox 0 it so you aren't storing useful info there, get event requests sync'd to an external calendar, untick 'remember' when you login.
I've found it totally manageable this way, and am cautiously hopeful that one day it wont be necessary once the Silicon Valley psychopaths grow up.
Also don't use the like button for anything except stuff friends post themselves. Otherwise you will get spammed with that stuff and you will get less of what your actual facebook friends post. You can remove likes also afterwards.
This is what my redux version of Facebook looks like, using custom uBlock filters - basically just news feed and notifications. Manages to eliminate ~90% of their manipulation attempts I reckon.
http://i.imgur.com/kRTI7Un.png
Other tips: unsubscribe from anything/one whose posts you don't want to see (sounds obvious if you're disciplined about this it makes a lot of difference), stick to messages only but inbox 0 it so you aren't storing useful info there, get event requests sync'd to an external calendar, untick 'remember' when you login.
I've found it totally manageable this way, and am cautiously hopeful that one day it wont be necessary once the Silicon Valley psychopaths grow up.