To have started posting on social media?

amimakingafannyofmyself · 2026-01-18T13:55:54+00:00

i know there’s a lot of opinions on “influencers” on here so I just want to clarify that I’m not posting anything like that, just my opinions on sports etc. I see a lot of women my age being offered incredible opportunities after building a community doing this sort of thing - free tickets, free trips, etc etc. so I figured why not, I’ve got a lot of spare time and can put some effort into it. My family are all pretty embarrassed by me. They seem to think it reflects badly on them and that if anyone finds out I’ll regret it. They’re all begging me to take the videos down and close down my page. AIBU to do it?

UnhappyHobbit · 20/01/2026 10:22

Catza · 18/01/2026 15:50

@Mhhk and @Idontspeakgermansorry can you explain why "attention seeking" is a negative thing in your minds?

OP, just go for it and don't take any notice of your family. I have never had a personal IG account. I had a small one for my business. I spent years feeling embarassed and uncomfortable posting anything with my face. I don't even have anything on my FB and just use it to follow groups.
That changed last year. I was having some therapy and one of the topics we got onto was internalising someone else's beliefs and rules and how this impacted on my relationships with others and myself. That very day I posted something personal on IG. It was just a small clip from a hobby I was doing. It's, honestly, so liberating.. Yes, my mum made a comment about it being "vulgar". The world, surprisingly didn't fall apart.
If you enjoy it - do it. If your family are embarrassed by it, they don't have to engage with it.

Thank you for sharing this. It’s really helpful. What your mum said was awful and is a reflection on her, not you. I hope you know that

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 19:58

Jumpingthruhoops · 19/01/2026 19:04

100%! What a great attitude! 💪

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I realised that life is too short to give a fuck to be honest

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constantlylactating · 19/01/2026 19:56

I post on social media, my biggest following is on tiktok, then Instagram, then Facebook. I started getting decent freebies at around 1000 followers.

I make a decent side income from it, it says for extras, like holidays and days out.

Jumpingthruhoops · 19/01/2026 19:04

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:16

I love that though! Life is too short to keep saying no to things. Tonight I ran on the treadmill in the gym for the first time. Sandwiched in between two very fit men who were sprinting. And do you know what? I loved it. It made me feel amazing and nobody gave a shit!

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100%! What a great attitude! 💪

Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:34

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:31

They definitely look down on me slightly.

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Time to start shedding them. Are they people you have to see a lot of?

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:31

Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:28

Ignore them. Do they often try to put you down?

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They definitely look down on me slightly.

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Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:31

tumbletoast · 18/01/2026 14:12

Oh and your opinions on sports - are these sports you understand? Are they controversial opinions? Informed opinions?

For instance, if my relative was posting long rambling videos on social media attempting to make witty remarks and commentate on tennis despite knowing absolutely nothing about tennis but expecting it to generate freebies for them - then I probably would be embarrassed and suggest they stop.

Even if they were making an idiot of themselves, it is their life. What has it to do with you? People are so pass remarkable and keen to interfere with others, often under the guise of 'care'. Just mind your own business!

Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:28

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:26

They just raised their eyebrows.

Over the last few days I’ve gained about 30 followers. It’s slow progress but it shows me that there’s someone out there that’s interested!

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Ignore them. Do they often try to put you down?

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:26

Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:23

Good for you! They sound boring AF. How did they respond?

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They just raised their eyebrows.

Over the last few days I’ve gained about 30 followers. It’s slow progress but it shows me that there’s someone out there that’s interested!

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Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:23

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 18:42

I’ve actually stood up to them! I’ve told them over dinner that they may find it embarrassing but I’m looking to do something I enjoy and they can support it or not, but if it ever takes off I’m not going to share the proceeds of that with them.

I feel really good about myself right now

Good for you! They sound boring AF. How did they respond?

Gahr · 19/01/2026 18:22

Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 16:50

Just my opinion. I'm not going to hide that and make myself smaller to avoid upsetting people. Especially, when they asked for the opinions in the first place.

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Would you say that a man talking about sports on tiktok was 'attention seeking'? Answer honestly.

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 19/01/2026 18:16

Jumpingthruhoops · 19/01/2026 18:14

Now that IS interesting... I'm 47 and child-free by choice. So you could say I've ALWAYS been in my 'fuck it' era! 😂😂

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I love that though! Life is too short to keep saying no to things. Tonight I ran on the treadmill in the gym for the first time. Sandwiched in between two very fit men who were sprinting. And do you know what? I loved it. It made me feel amazing and nobody gave a shit!

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Jumpingthruhoops · 19/01/2026 18:15

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 18:42

I’ve actually stood up to them! I’ve told them over dinner that they may find it embarrassing but I’m looking to do something I enjoy and they can support it or not, but if it ever takes off I’m not going to share the proceeds of that with them.

I feel really good about myself right now

Love this for you! 🙌🙌❤️

Jumpingthruhoops · 19/01/2026 18:14

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 17:01

Congratulations! I think that’s where some of the difference comes from as well. I’m young, but don’t have kids. So I’m in my “fuck it” era

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Now that IS interesting... I'm 47 and child-free by choice. So you could say I've ALWAYS been in my 'fuck it' era! 😂😂

WinnerWinnerChickenDinnner · 18/01/2026 20:20

I just began to look at tiktok recently and there are some interesting people I check out, an Irish musician, an American Italian couple going through ivf.
Will you show game clips and discuss and react to them?

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 18:42

I’ve actually stood up to them! I’ve told them over dinner that they may find it embarrassing but I’m looking to do something I enjoy and they can support it or not, but if it ever takes off I’m not going to share the proceeds of that with them.

I feel really good about myself right now

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Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 17:35

MaverickMum86 · 18/01/2026 17:21

I feel influencers on the whole are having a very negative affect on society (and youngsters MH), and I’d be happy to see the end of them. However, I realise it’s easy money and therefore understand why people embrace the opportunity.

I do totally agree that aspects of social media can be damaging. But I don’t think it applies to all content

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MaverickMum86 · 18/01/2026 17:21

I feel influencers on the whole are having a very negative affect on society (and youngsters MH), and I’d be happy to see the end of them. However, I realise it’s easy money and therefore understand why people embrace the opportunity.

Oblivionnnnn · 18/01/2026 17:12

My partner and I both have IG channels with a particular interest, and at points both of us have blocked people we know in real life.

Older family members just don’t get it and see it as showing off or attention seeking I guess - it’s actually just a fun creative outlet and it nets us some freebies here and there.

Completely harmless, but a lot of people are very snide about such thing. Fuck em, I say.

Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 17:07

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 17:01

Congratulations! I think that’s where some of the difference comes from as well. I’m young, but don’t have kids. So I’m in my “fuck it” era

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So was I lol. That's how I ended up living in Germany with (almost) two kids.

Good luck with your videos! I hope they work out for you.

Thepeopleversuswork · 18/01/2026 17:02

@Jumpingthruhoops

Respectfully, so what!? I'm getting so sick of this idea that we should all make ourselves smaller just to avoid upsetting/annoying other people. It's bullshit

Amen to this.

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 17:01

Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 17:00

I do! Almost 2 of them!

Edited

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Congratulations! I think that’s where some of the difference comes from as well. I’m young, but don’t have kids. So I’m in my “fuck it” era

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Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 17:00

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 16:57

Interesting! Out of interest, do you have kids?

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I do! Almost 2 of them!

Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 16:59

Jumpingthruhoops · 18/01/2026 16:57

That's not what's meant by 'making yourself smaller'. This isn't about you. It's about OP. If you think it's attention seeking, you don't have to pay attention.

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Surely it means not expressing yourself? Which I was doing by giving my opinion, when asked.

Original poster

amimakingafannyofmyself · 18/01/2026 16:57

Idontspeakgermansorry · 18/01/2026 16:54

I'm 22, if that helps.

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Interesting! Out of interest, do you have kids?

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