Page 4 | If you’re a mum and use Facebook or Instagram….

MissCruellaDeVil · 21/12/2021 10:22

I'm a mum, my social media is full of both me going about my life but that includes a lot of my kids, they are my life! If you don't like it, please unfriend me :)

FrazzledCareerWoman · 21/12/2021 10:24

Why does it bother you?

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 21/12/2021 10:24

I think the problem arises when people think we post on social media to entertain THEM, when the majority of us post to please ourselves and don't really care if it gets likes or comments. My Instagram is like an overflow for my camera roll so I can clear space on my phone safe in the knowledge that the best of my pics are still available for me to view any time I like.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 21/12/2021 10:26

People need to be really careful overly exposing their dc on sm. They really do. It's wrong for all sorts of reasons, I'm talking about people who use them as a prop.

HardbackWriter · 21/12/2021 10:37

@LonginesPrime

I have a dog, a DH, godkids, nieces and nephews, enjoy travel and reading - I do try and keep my posts varied

You're not providing a service to anyone else by posting your life on social media - why on earth do you care if anyone dislikes the balance of the topics you choose to post about?

It sounds like you're making a real effort to curate your social media feeds for others' entertainment, which is lovely if you enjoy doing that, but I think it's important to remember that not everyone uses social media in the way you do, and not everyone is putting as much thought into their posts as you are.

People are free to post whatever boring crap they want, and everyone else is free to follow, like, mute or block it as desired.

You can't control what other people post, but you can control what you have to see on your feeds.

It also seems to assume that people are reading down your individual feed, like a blog? The variety on most people's newsfeed comes more from the different people than an individual person carefully curating their content to be varied.

BertieBotts · 21/12/2021 10:37

Ooh I like the take first 10 posts excluding groups/pages game. Mine:

General comment/question on life x2
Photo of child x3
Covid related x3 (2 normal, one conspiracy)
Christmas related (not kids) x2

I have loads of friends with small children.

LonginesPrime · 21/12/2021 10:49

It also seems to assume that people are reading down your individual feed, like a blog? The variety on most people's newsfeed comes more from the different people than an individual person carefully curating their content to be varied.

That's true - OP, have you thought about following more people who share your interests?

I don't really use social media to keep up with what friends are doing at all - mine is generally a reflection of my hobbies and interests and lovely stuff I like to see. I might see some boring crap once in a while but it's far outnumbered by all the other interesting (to me!) stuff on my feeds. I keep it this way by unfollowing the boring crap if it's not serving me.

SusannaQueen · 21/12/2021 10:50

Anything but food pictures, the stuff that some people eat turns my stomach.
I put child photos up on FB, as I've moved away from my family or they've emigrated etc, so they like to see them. Although most of my posts are memes, jokes that I think are hilarious, but no one else seems to

I set my Instagram up totally differently, no family photos or follows, I only follow artists/creative people, whereas my FB is everyone I know and lots of random pages.
It's true that your social media is what you make it, my Insta is a relaxing read, I only get recommended nice things. My FB is a hot mess of political posts, news and revolting food, but also news from good friends and laugh out funny posts.

TerraNovaTwo · 21/12/2021 10:56

I agree. Get some hobbies and interests.

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 21/12/2021 10:58

My first 10 (ignoring ads and groups that I follow):

Aunt wishing everyone a merry Christmas and explaining the lack of cards being sent
Mum from DD1’s school posting a picture of a present and thanking the sender
Acquaintance from uni sharing a tweet about reading books
Acquaintance sharing pictures of her pets
Acquaintance from uni sharing a meme about Christmas
Friend sharing pictures of baby’s first swim
Acquaintance from school sharing a picture of her baby
Same school mum plugging her MLM with pictures of her kids
NCT mum sharing Christmas wish pictures

10. Acquaintance from uni sharing pictures of her out with friends.

What this shows me is that most of my newsfeed is full of adverts and posts from groups I follow. I had to scroll for ages to find those 10 posts. I also see a lot from people I wouldn’t consider friends.

RoastedParsnips · 21/12/2021 10:59

I used to post photos of DC for my family's benefit. Not to show the world or my friends, pretty sure most parents feel the same.
I have come off Facebook recently for various reasons and found my mental health has improved.. maybe it's time you deleted yours too?

RoastedParsnips · 21/12/2021 11:01

Ohh I tell you one thing that did annoy me. Parents constantly posting memes and quotes "I'm trying my best I want to be the best mum to my kids." Like don't we all want to be the best mum? No need to constantly post the same thing it's almost makes me thinks they're trying to hide something.

QueenofLouisiana · 21/12/2021 11:03

I’m allowed two photos a year of DS- Mother’s Day and his birthday. Fortunately I have a greyhound who is happy to have photos taken and dominate my FB.

ohdear10 · 21/12/2021 11:06

There's lots of uninteresting posts on social media, why single out pictures of children?

Most things are on social media are dead boring barring major life events. I'm not interested in anyone's takeaway, meal, steering wheel, night out clubbing etc. either

KurtWildesChristmasNamechange · 21/12/2021 11:07

Ooh I like the take first 10 posts excluding groups/pages game. Mine:

Someone's tiktok
A pic of holly someone foraged
2 x Christmas trees with DC milling around
A pic of someone's festive slippers
2 x memes
2 x posts wishing people a blessed Yuletide
A pic of a couple who just got engaged

Mummaganoush · 21/12/2021 11:08

I personally use those platforms as a backup place for photo storage, so I do post regularly, pictures of events pets kids food etc, thats my approach to being social, that people see what I see. Mine is varied but as a mum of 3 the kids do make up a large chunk, Id hate to think It was annoying anyome to such a degree, or upsetting them. It sounds like maybe you need to be off social media a while, to give yourself a break.

MrsToadflax · 21/12/2021 11:15

I don't mind people posting what's going on in their lives at that point (and if it's small children, then that's fine), but what I can't stand are posts looking for validation, showing off and gushing with sentimentality. I've got a couple of friends who post very posed pictures of their children/family. Obviously designed to show off outfits, expensive car in the background or present a 'perfect family' image. I know things are far from perfect and it just feels so false. Then there is the over the top declarations of love, being blessed and 'lucky mummy.' When did we become the schmaltz generation? Say it in private, but no need to post all over the internet.

And no, I'm not jealous! I have a privileged life, but don't feel the need to post about it.

ItsSunnyOutside · 21/12/2021 11:19

As other pp have said, you tend to post about people or things that are important to you. I spend most of my time with dc and dh, so when I post, it's a pic of our fun days out together. I don't have fb, just insta. It's private and just family and friends. No randoms.

I have a mate who is child free (by choice) amd she posts lots of pics of her dog and selfies.

Another pal is very much a party person and posts lots of pics of drinks and food, her outfits etc.

Most of my pals post pics of their kids though.

It's a big part of who they are.

You can always mute!

massiveblob · 21/12/2021 11:25

@Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas

People need to be really careful overly exposing their dc on sm. They really do. It's wrong for all sorts of reasons, I'm talking about people who use them as a prop.

Totally this. Kids sport at a high level is full of kids promotional Insta accounts posting their every move from age 4 upwards to thousands of random followers. Daily updates of everything they do. No privacy what so ever. Photos in bedrooms, in PJs, in gardens, in school uniform. Everything about them.. they become like public property. This is before they are in high school.

onedayoranother · 21/12/2021 13:16

Luckily none of my friends do this, though our kids are older. I only post pics of my kids if it's something out of of the ordinary - them cutting down the Christmas tree, my DD at a Christmas wreath making workshop, my son on his birthday - that sort of thing. I do have a friend who posts really long monologues about her various illnesses (while also saying 'I don't say much about my daily pain') and if she posts one pic she will post 60 of pretty much the same thing! But she lives alone with no family so guess it gives her a sense of community. It's my choice whether to read it or not - exercise yours.

TulipsGarden · 21/12/2021 17:08

Acquaintance sharing photo of her and child wishing everything merry Christmas.
Ad for a company I follow
News page update (local)
Acquaintance asking about Covid recovery.
News page ad (suggested for me for a place on the other side of the country)
Facebook group post from someone I don't know or interact with.
Ad for a company I Googled yesterday
Chatty post by a friend.
Cover photo change by a Facebook group I interact with daily

10. Facebook group post from someone I don't know or interact with (same group as above, but generally I do really enjoy it).

So really just two or three 'feed-worthy' posts that I was interested in reading - but the rest I would just have scanned past. I does make you think how much information we take in without even processing it though.

Rosieparkerss · 21/12/2021 17:32

I follow someone who just posts photos of cups of coffee or hot chocolate. It might be to show off her nails but it’s SO boring. Can you unfollow on Instagram without unfriending like FB?

MrsToadflax · 21/12/2021 22:20

@Rosieparkerss

I follow someone who just posts photos of cups of coffee or hot chocolate. It might be to show off her nails but it’s SO boring. Can you unfollow on Instagram without unfriending like FB?

Yes, you can 'mute' an account so you don't see posts on your feed, but are still following and can see their posts if you search for them.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 21/12/2021 22:21

@Youngatheart00

lighthearted

….little plea for you to post something other than yet another pic of your child every once in a while.

I don’t care if it’s your lunch, your holiday, hell even a motorway service station just not more baby/kid spam please. It’s astounding to see how once interesting friends have changed and now post pretty much daily updates of their offspring eating toast, watching tv, with relative xyz. Fine to take the pics, why do they need to be shared with the world?

NB also stop with the damn elf on a shelf

Oh cringe for you!!

Rosieparkerss · 21/12/2021 22:28

Thank you I will do that.