[MentatOnMelange]

This is anecdotal but I've noticed my time online is more 'productive' since quitting facebook. In places like waiting rooms, public transportation or general boredom the precise parts of the internet you use to waste time all serve a similar purpose (e.g to keep from staring into space mindlessly in the absence of other stimuli).

The greater productivity enters the picture because now I read things like hacker news and look up random things on the internet. This has lead to me learning useful skills and enough general knowledge to be helpful with different courses I've taken and small chat with people about their professions, interests etc.

Granted, there's the whole issue of people choosing their smartphone over interacting with the equally bored stranger next to them, but thats an entirely different problem.