LOL Rane’s post reminds me of the final 12 months I took to both wind-down then end my Facebook existence.

Phase 1: three months: a daily post reminding Friends that I’ll be culling my Friends list based on activity. Those who have little or no activity (to include likes, etc.) will discover me missing in their Friends list (should they actually care).

Phase 2: three months: unfriend any friend with more than 100 Friends in their Friends list. Confirming Rane’s assumption (noted above) — who has the capacity to keep up to speed with 1000’s of people? I don’t. I doubt most can without an arm of private assistants keeping them apprised as needed.

Phase 3: three months: stop accepting all Friend requests based on the reality I’ll be dead (in Facebook terms) within six months. Time is precious. Time to practice solid time management skills.

Phase 4: final three months: Inviting remaining Friends list to a three month celebration where we really talk-story. I invited folks to think in terms of a memorial given at funerals. Share stories of the best and worst times. Allow all of us to GROW together.

On my last Facebook day I invited what remaining Friends I had to private message me their contact info. I’ll keep in touch as best I can. Guess how many (of the 69 surviving Friends — out of over 3300 — shared their info).

When Facebook finally closed my account (of which I have zero doubts it’s really deleted) I smiled with folks asked, Are you on Facebook? My response — Not any more!