I didn't know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it

The words of Betty White, “I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time,” strike with the sharp humor of wit yet carry the weight of wisdom forged in nearly a century of living. Spoken by an actress whose life spanned eras before television and into the dawn of the internet age, her words serve as both a jest and a warning. They remind us that while technology changes, the human struggle with time remains eternal—how we spend it, how we waste it, and how we honor it.

At its heart, this teaching is about the sacred value of time. White recognized that platforms like Facebook, though filled with entertainment, chatter, and distraction, could also consume hours that might otherwise be used for deeper living—for laughter with friends, for creating, for walking beneath the sun, for cherishing the fleeting gift of life. In her jest, she reveals a timeless truth: life is too short to be squandered on endless scrolling. To waste time is to waste the only currency that cannot be earned back.

The origin of this reflection comes not from disdain for progress, but from White’s lived perspective. Born in 1922, she saw a world before television, before the internet, before the noise of constant connectivity. She knew the sweetness of conversation face to face, of joys unfiltered by screens, of friendships nourished not by digital "likes" but by presence. Thus, when she called Facebook a "waste of time," it was the perspective of one who knew firsthand the richness of life lived outside the artificial glow of machines.

History offers examples that echo this truth. Consider the ancient Romans, who spoke of otium—leisure not wasted in idleness but filled with reading, reflection, or meaningful conversation. Or think of the modern parallel of television in the mid-20th century, when critics warned that endless hours before the screen dulled the spirit. In every age, mankind has wrestled with the temptation to let tools meant for connection become chains of distraction. White’s words are simply the modern voice of an ancient battle: the struggle to guard the precious gift of time.

The deeper wisdom in her humor is that technology is neutral—neither good nor evil in itself—but its value is determined by how it is used. A tool meant for connection can quickly become an instrument of disconnection, isolating individuals from real presence, from face-to-face warmth, from authentic living. What seems harmless—a few minutes here, a few clicks there—can become an invisible thief, robbing the heart of hours, days, and years. White’s laughter was her weapon, but beneath the jest, her caution rings true.

To the seekers of wisdom, let this be a reminder: measure your time as a treasure. Do not surrender it carelessly to empty pursuits. Use technology, but do not let it use you. Be mindful of the balance between the digital and the real, between the fleeting amusements of screens and the eternal joys of human connection. Remember that time is the one gift that, once spent, is never returned.

The practical lesson is this: when you find yourself reaching endlessly for distraction, pause. Ask yourself, “Is this nourishing me, or merely numbing me?” Limit your consumption of what drains you. Replace wasted hours with laughter shared in person, with the pursuit of your craft, with silence that feeds the soul. Even in a world of digital noise, you may still choose to live richly and fully.

Thus, let Betty White’s words endure, cloaked in humor yet shining with wisdom: beware the waste of time. For in guarding your hours, you guard your life. Choose wisely where your attention dwells, and let your days be filled not with the emptiness of distraction, but with the fullness of joy, creation, and love.