Question.
"I studied the Portal device from Facebook I received from the [a friend's] daughter, rather an expensive gift. This device is useable when you are a member of Facebook a service I have been led to believe have many negative complaints linked to its use. What objections do you have, if any by subscribing to Facebook? I’m inclined to thank [friend's daughter] and return the device as I’m reluctant to joining. Let me know your thoughts."
Response.
Technology is a tool to extend and expand human capabilities. As such these tools can also be used for regressive and ill conceived--sometimes truly evil--purposes. A hammer is designed to help construct; however, we know that one can be used to attack someone other. The same is true for all technologies that so make up our environment that they become implicit, taken-for-granted, no longer noticeable as such--all around us.
Meditation can get us from the everyday mundane to enlightenment's heights, and the methods suggested for practice can also function as ends in themselves, to wit pleasurable states of peace and harmony without ever arriving at any heights.
However, identification with and idealization of one's meditation teacher and any procedural purity s/he preaches can lead us off the path of self evolution to discordant and ill- or misguided states such as hero worship, proselytizing, and polarizing, if not inhuman, acts and rhetoric.
A film or photo or piece of art can evoke emotions and action-effects, bringing amusement or tears of joy in some cases and in others action for a better, more beautiful/just/compassionate/etc., world. These artifacts can also feed, that is support in some way, the unstable and disturb the sensitively consciousness--people like me.
Facebook and related technologies work the same way. Obsession with the latest posts or messages or images as well as taking me-centered photos have led to psychological aberrations and ignorance of physical realities, or lack of appreciation of the power of same.
"She died falling off the cliff as she was taking her picture to share on Instagram."
Yikes, talk about (self-)abuse of technology.
However, keeping up with the grand-kids or calling cheap to someone on the other side of the world, these enhancements to our experience of the world shine in a true and good light. What's to complain about?
A lot, but these concerns fall outside of the technology/tool discussion for individual/collective good. We live in a sociopolitical world, and we can weigh, for example, what media companies will do in a less-than-enlightened way with the data we surrender to them, this in the face of the fact that one voice will not be heard if you opt out.
In return for "intended social good," these companies do for their own and not their client-customer's good. What today's mega-company CEOs and their hired minions do because it was "just my job" and "it was just there for the taking," well, you can decide for yourself. You will have to work to get enough information to make a good decision for yourself. Or, if you don't care about the Zuckerbergs and bezoars of the world, you have your decision.
This device you've been given can improve and expand our communications across distances. Whatsapp, for example, is easier and faster and better than relying on email and Facetime, or the phone. But you will be lining the pockets of the new masters of the world, the do-(almost)nothing-for-others, the likes of which include Zuckerberg and Bezos. So consider the pros and cons to the degree that you need to, and make the choice you are comfortable with.*
On the other hand, at least for me, I would not want the damn thing to watch me or listen to my political rants. The white bigots, or God forbid, the serious theists might come calling.
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* For a start to a complicated issue I have made overly simplistic, see https://www.forbes.com/sites/prakashdolsak/2020/12/16/different-styles-of-philanthropy-mackenzie-scott-and-jeff-bezos/?sh=54403eab50da
