Thank you venerable for the link to the video about Facebook - it is quite shocking.
However, ethical choice about Facebook use depends on a situation. There are other reasons than being misinformed about Facebook or not knowing of alternatives, why at least some people, stay with Facebook – it is due to a group effect or a kind of network effect. This may apply to some monks and nuns, not just lay people like me.
For many older people to give up Facebook would mean giving up membership in all Facebook private groups they joined. Effectively it would also mean cutting off information on group real life meetings, outings and opportunities to continue cultivating such friendships, and give others support in good social projects, and feel supported too.
Would cancelling Facebook membership benefit them or other people in their groups? I don’t know. But personally, at present, as far as I see it would neither benefit me or benefit others in the 2 groups I am in if I got out, but in the future maybe.
Similarly, for some parents and grandparents, to leave a Facebook private family group – would mean to reduce connection with the loved ones and opportunity to learn about their activities at least to some extent, when not able to see them directly. In the past, most grandparents lived with their families, and children were protected and guided through their help in various ways. Now many family members are far apart, and children listen less to parents, let alone grandparents after they reached teenage years. They chose the social media their friends use, not what their parents or grandparents would like them to watch or read.
Would that really help my family if I cancelled my Facebook account? At present no, and the future depends on them too.
I have been using computers all my adult life, and it has been a gradual process, from learning about computers and binary system and simple programming at school in late 1960s, to later using them at university study, work and at home for many years – from math workstations and the DOS, to first versions of Windows and Office, early computer languages and Intranet to finally Internet with its innovations. So, I have been aware of the gradual changes and impacts of computers on my mind and on others I know personally for more than 50 years. I was never really interested in using computers for entertainment, but as a marvellous tool and library. So I feel saddened to read and hear stories of misuse of those great inventions – misuse by chains and networks of software developers, business wholesale and retail and broad range of users.
I think Facebook organisation is like other big multinational business for profit that is just supplying demand of consumers, following the same old business model as many governments who aim for ongoing economic growth and measure progress using money.
If all science and IT graduates had to pass a subject on ecology and global ethics and then also sign an oath of ethical conduct, before they received their degrees, then I think social media and both global physical and social (mental) climate would change to the better more rapidly .