I SET up a Facebook account about two years ago for one simple reason: To have access to newest happenings in my grandson’s and daughters’ lives.

His mother, my daughter, said it would be quite unwieldy to send all his photos via email, so I agreed.

As happened perhaps with other newbies like me then, I had trouble setting up the account. I thought my first attempt didn’t get through, only to discover that instead of one, I had set up two accounts.

So, among my targets this year is to get rid of the second account. This would mean fusing my two accounts and referring all my friends to just one.

If they join me still, I’m blest. If not, they must be similarly situated --- having too much to do and too little time to do them; that I shall not begrudge them.

Another thing, I’ll read more and research more. My exact response to a survey questionnaire from Harvard University about my observations of today’s practice of journalism, and my expectations of today’s journalists, moving forward.

Since change must also begin with us, I shall no longer read toxic comments in FB or Twitter or even email.

I used to read comments bounced off to me via social media, particularly on the Duterte administration and the incoming Trump leadership.

Some comments would tick me off and sometimes, especially when deliberately untrue, bilious, venomous or outright vulgar, I’d get tempted to respond by putting in a word edgewise.

This year, I shall be deliberately frugal. I’ll click “Like” only for inputs with earth-shaking implications. The rest I shall gloss over. I like the practice of Sun.Star and Rappler.com which summarizes readers’ moods about the day’s stories.

Yesterday’s moods, for instance, were “angry” about Bongbong Marcos’ politicking via bringing relief goods to typhoon Nina’s victims in Naga City, VP Leni Robredo’s bailiwick.

“Angry” were the readers, too, over the appointment of starlet Mocha Uson to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

A staunch supporter of Duterte and blogger, she was known to be giving sex tips online before her recent fame.

To the story about a starlet’s break-up with one of Brunei Prince Bolkiah’s sons, readers said “Don’t Care.” Indeed, of what moment is this to us, and why did Rappler even dignify this gossip?

“Sad” were the readers over the death of Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo’s 27-year-old son. I never liked Panelo’s defense of Duterte’s penchant for vulgar language, and found his justification of possible martial law declaration sickening.

But death in one’s family must wash away any animosity. And even if the Indian proverb goes that burying a child is a fulfillment of a curse on the father, still the call for pulling together and consoling the grieving must be stronger.

So, no more time for reading kilometric trash in the endless war between supporters or critics of Duterte. They only sap one’s energies and cap the day with total gloom.

Back to the basics from now on: My FB account is for catching up on my grandson’s and my daughters’ lives. If good friends saunter by, I’ll happily read up on theirs as well.

But enough of tantrums, traumas and dramas in social media; no profit in them.

(lelani.echavez@gmail.com)