To Leave or Stay

I saw a report on the news tonight that a significant percentage of Facebook subscribers are leaving the platform because of the site’s encroachment on personal information.  The story told us that Facebook users have had it with the site’s use of algorithms designed to segment users by demographics for the purpose of marketing and tracking political affiliation and using that data to control content available to users.  The thought of that kind of social media manipulation is outrageous and unacceptable.  But I have a theory, and I know that it is probably controversial and perhaps not even considered by Facebook.  I think that maybe, and I know this sounds crazy, some people announce that they’re “leaving” Facebook with the intent of determining who amongst their friends will react with strong emotion, imploring them to stay or conversely, fully supporting their decision to “leave” as justifiable. To take this theory (bear with me) to another extreme level, some of these folks may actually then “hover” after “leaving” Facebook to keep track of what’s going on in their “absence”, with the absolute plan to eventually return to the platform in due time.  I think the decision to stay or leave is an individual’s right.  But I would ask someone about to make that kind of profound and completely reversable and totally inconsequential choice, “won’t you miss the cat videos?”