It's a brave old world.

I have deleted my Facebook profile. It's been a long time coming, this cauterising of a social media limb, but I've been fearful. Of becoming a social outcast, of missing out on things, of doing something silly. So far I feel liberated, but it's only been three days. I probably couldn't miss it too much in my current computerless state. (My laptop went on fire the other week - more on that another time).

There are many reasons in favour of a complete delete though. Not least the reclaiming of your privacy and personal identity, asserting your desire to think for yourself, or attempting to reestablish meaningful personal interaction.

Surely the thrill of discovery is something in itself? I don't want the internet to second-guess my next move or tell me things I might be interested in, I want to find them out for myself. I don't want a distant set of Frisco boffins tracking my every move through any webpage with a like button. Perhaps this is naive of me in this day and age, but I can only do what I can do.

Perhaps I shall miss out in not having that constant connection to friends, family, acquaintances and colleagues that I've enjoyed for the last five years. But then again, I find that Facebook has rendered social interaction shallow, fleeting and pointless - OMG, it's been ages. We should do coffee. Well, fine. Ring me, email me, we'll get something down. I don't mind having a concentrated circle of people who are the only ones I keep in touch with regularly - I don't need the illusion of a massive social circle.

People have always asked me whether having a blog is oversharing, giving away too much. For me it's the fact that you decide what you're sharing that makes it interesting. It's a creative endeavour, I'm sharing my thoughts, not the last practical details of my life. It's like with the mobile phone - it's not a constant connection to the outside world, precisely the opposite. I choose when I'm available. Facebook demands constant presence, instant attention. It's hungry for information, details, titbits - I think it's time it went on a diet.

Meanwhile, for me, it's a brave old world.