So that is one random example and I am sure you’ve had a lot more experiences that were chance interactions that weren’t facilitated by Facebook. Also note that Facebook provides a huge negative impact on our society because of stuff like the Qanon group mentioned in TFA. Do you really think your specific experience of a chance encounter with your friend makes up for all the negative things it facilitates? And how many meaningful real life experiences have you missed out on because you and other people spend so much time on FB? I am not going to argue that social media is evil and how the new generation just wants to stick their noses into their screens. Look at the father blocking out his family with a newspaper every morning for a proof that this isn’t a new phenomenon by any means. But I will argue that as far as social networks go, Facebook is a shitty one and better ones already exist.

First off, hope you and your family are keeping yourself sanity through all this. As someone with kids about that age, this is rough.

I will point out that there are many really good social networks that don’t also have the same problems as Facebook. Things like instant messaging groups, subreddits, Discord servers, phone calls, Imgur, etc. Every medium and platform has its drawbacks but I find that using multiple networks that aren’t FB has been a huge boon to the quality and quantity of meaningful experiences I’ve had.

There are many social media platforms better than Facebook. If it disappeared tomorrow, people would simply relocate.

And? How is that justification for creating a single point of failure for your social contact?

My credit card works great - I still have a backup card with a separate bank from the primary one.

All methods of communication would suddenly disappear if Facebook goes away.

Right, that's my point. Then you aren't close.

If you were, you'd have his imessage / whatsapp. Facebook is a 3rd tier form of communication for a reason.