Deactivating your Facebook account is liberating. No more humble-brag status updates; no more photo albums of babies, dogs, and all-inclusive vacations; no more pretending like you actually care about your entire graduating class.
But cutting out social media completely is difficult--if not impossible--to do. One study from the University of Vienna found that 46.8 percent of people surveyed on Facebook usage considered quitting, but they couldn't hit the log out button for good.
If you want to stop all the mindless Facebook stalking but want some semblance of an online social life, try niche social networks. Narrow networks--like these 5 fitness ones--cater to your specific interests instead of functioning as a timeline of every thought from everybody on your feed. There are hundreds of niche social networks out there for the normal guy, but these five are some of the best to get you started.
Best for: Handymen, DIY-ers, people looking to do home repairs on the cheap
Who doesn't want to be like Ron Swanson and refinish an old chest? Instructables started out as a how-to site for technology, mechanical devices, and home repairs, but it's expanded to include everything from woodworking to cooking and "life skills."
The network is based around member-written how-to articles, which means that if you want to be a part of the community you'll have to start uploading project tutorials. The website lets you upload photos, diagrams, and videos to help illustrate your project--handy if you've never checked the oil in your own car.
As a social network, Instructables isn't exactly Facebook. Your free account does give you a quick bio, profile photo, and the ab ility to "favorite" projects and participate in the community's groups and forums. You can't add friends, but you can follow members and leave comments on individual guides. Ultimately, there's less talking and more doing, and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Best for: People who want social change
Care2 is trying to harness the promotion aspect of social media--for good. It's a social network and petition site that connects people who are fighting for different causes, such as animal welfare, civil rights, global development, and better health policies. With over 20 million members, it's an ideal place to start if you want to promote your own movement instead of just your brand or yourself.
It's got all the trappings of a traditional social network: Friends, groups, a detailed biography and profile photo, private mes saging, and a green star "Kudo" system, which is sort of a cross between Facebook's Like system and LinkedIn's recommendations. Members can thank other members by sending them a green star, or by writing a testimonial about their social service.
Best for: Cooks, people who like to look at food
If you're a gourmet, an aspiring chef, or just someone looking for a recipe that uses quinoa, old carrots, and beer, Foodie is your best bet. It looks a lot like Pinterest--okay, it basically is Pinterest--but for food, recipes, and restaurant reviews. (No wedding planners or interior decorators here.)
Foodie is an image board with a simple, elegant interface. Its networking features include a short bio, profile photo, and the ability to create "collections" of food, recipes, or restaurants. For example, you can create a collecti on about noodles, sangria, chocolate cake, or steaks. Or, if you're lazy, you can just browse other people's collections to find the perfect recipe. (Or just drool over photos of delicious food.)
Best for: Writers, readers
Social networks are about sharing content: Short, snappy one-liners; two-minute video clips; links to breaking news stories. Medium is a social network that focuses entirely on member-written articles, usually personal stories and essays, which are categorized into "curated collections" by editors.
In other words, Medium is what you'd get if you combined a social network with a personal blog. It gives members the ability to write and promote their articles without having to set up and promote a personal blog, while also sharing stories they find interesting with other members. Medium is connected to y our Twitter account--so it's not an entirely independent--and its networking features are limited to collecting, commenting, and recommending other people's work. 
Best for: Photographers
Instagram is sort of a cop-out--it's actually owned by Facebook. But Zuckerberg's baby hasn't really touched the photo app since it first acquired it in 2012.
You don't have to be a professional photographer to use Instagram--in fact, thanks to the multitude of toy camera filters, it might even be better if you're not. Instagram is the network for visual appreciators--people who like pictures, rather than empty status updates. As a network, Instagram is simple but robust, with a limited profile, short biography, and the ability to follow people and use hashtags. You can also "favorite" and comment on photos, which is basically all the interaction you need. Let the pictures speak for themselves.
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