For those that deactivated their SM accounts, did it help your mental health?

[jamrolypolyandcustard]

Mumsnet can vouch that I'm not a news outlet looking for a Monday morning news story.

Lately I've been toying with the idea of deactivating social media (and just using Facebook for my DS school chat and school updates - due to my "profession" I have it my first and made up middle name so no one would guess it and I haven't friend requested anyone either or vice versa)

Particularly after having my DS, I had awful PND and found SM very triggering that others who just had a baby "seemed to have it all" whilst I was struggling so much. Now it's all ad this and aff that and I just find it draining I guess and a trigger if I have been having a bad day.

For anyone that has deactivated SM, what benefits did it bring? Did it help your mental health at all?

I use Instagram which I just wish would cut the bullshit and stop showing me accounts that have endless gifted this and that 😂

Just read all this and I'm sorry it just seems as though all I'm doing is rambling on 😅

Yes I deleted Facebook and am glad I did. There was nothing about it that was making my life better. Never had Instagram.

Personally I find it very different to the likes of Facebook or Instagram where it's a constant ad, aff link or gifted item. Social media has its benefits obviously but it was so much better when it wasn't a constant advertisement or celebrity being gifted a nursery for example when others are struggling just to put food on the table.

I know Mumsnet is a social media platform but I just find it more "real" than the likes of Instagram. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I deactivated Facebook and unfollowed most of my friends and I rarely go in it now. I am out of the habit. Ditto Instagram. Yes, it is better for my mental health. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Yes I did for similar reasons and it helped my mental health immeasurably. Helped with sleep hygiene too - nothing to browse at stupid o’clock.

Honestly yes

I only have Facebook but I deleted everyone but best friends and family so only have about 30 people on there, and I unfollowed all of them. So I don't see anything they post.

I then followed loads of groups linked to my hobbies and likes. So cooking, my sport, travelling etc.

So if I ever do go on there, I just see articles and cool things that make me happy.

No Instagram etc so all I have is Mumsnet, and a trimmed Facebook that I only click on about once a fortnight.

Not interested in the narcissistic nature of social media and comparing myself to how fake things are.

IMy mental health is pretty good.

I've ditched linkedin. Made my life better

I deactivated mine for a couple of weeks recently and enjoyed it but did have to go back on it for certain things I am. However don't really look though it now as it broke the habit

God yeah. 11 yrs clean of social media now. Thank god.

I came off FB 6 months ago, and think it has had a positive impact on my mental health.

I have IG. I pause it every now and then. I also only have two RL friends on there. The rest are just pages I like to follow (and I have some followers despite me never posting anything). I don't put my real name or picture on there as I don't want anyone to follow me from RL.

Other than that, no. I quit Facebook long ago and only tried Tiktok for about five minutes before deciding I hated it.

Yes, this approach has improved my mh

I deactivated BragBook in September. I don’t miss it at all. Actually feels like a huge weight is lifted.

I deactivated all mine over a year ago.
However, it wasn’t due to feeling like I couldn’t compete. I really couldn’t give a shit what ‘influencers’ are plugging or doing as I knew it was all absolute BS so it didn’t affect my mental health in that way. Similar to friends and family. So many post what they want you to see, even if it isn’t the reality.

Yes I came off bragbook as well four years ago and feel loads better for it

Yes let's cull them all!! There will be people whinging that mumsnet is the same, to some extent it is, as it could consume your time in the same way etc, but vastly different in that it's an anonymous forum with no photo "perfect life sharing" etc

Instagram and Facebook can be incredibly damaging to one's self esteem. I found when I left them both for good that my time was spent differently, I took photos for different reasons, I didn't look for validation in likes and my mental health improved.

I got bashed on here before for advocating for others to quit it but I don't care!

Do it! You'll actually not look back. True friends will still keep in contact via other means!

Thank you so much for all of your replies, I've deactivated my account on IG (don't have TikTok or anything) and hoping it helps. I'm finding the "comparison is a thief of joy" all too true nowadays.

I'm a student nurse so finding the amount of scrutiny that the NHS gets (and at times from big accounts) really infuriating too 🙃

I deleted my Facebook account about a year ago and I am much happier. Though family members forget to invite me to things now but oh well lol

Yes I came off at the start of Covid because my mum died weeks before and I couldn't face seeing what life looked like for other people.

I've never looked back. There were lots of things I didn't like about it. I do miss some of my family and friends posts about their kids but not enough to make me go back!

I spend a lot of time on Mumsnet though

So very true ❤️

I never liked the idea of my little boy being on there like posting a photo and anyone that I'd wanna send a photo to I'd just message/text.

As said previously I know Mumsnet is a form of SM but I appreciate the "realness" instead of the oh I'll advertise this amazing product blah blah blah but use my aff link and in reality I have never used this product 😂

Also infuriating when I treat myself to a pricey candle for example and there's a huge account getting them for free 😂

I came off everything after DD was born in October. I was having a shit time and seeing everyone's perfect lives made me feel worse. I think my pnd would be worse if I was still on SM.

I came off facebook over 2 years ago.. I have TikTok but don’t post or chat to anyone. Don’t have any other social media. It has helped mentally and I came off Facebook because I didn’t have want my abusive ex and his family prying on my life.

For me yes. I feel much more peaceful and content and I compare myself less. My social life is actually more busy because when I miss people I can't see what they're doing so we make plans. I feel more...happy in my corner of the world and I water my own grass more so to speak.

Yes it improved my life massively, I deleted my facebook just over 10 years ago and honestly have never felt like I’m missing out, I have never had instagram or twitter
I have half an hour floating on here most nights and that’s pretty much it, I find the menopause topic and weight loss chat really useful

Twitter - such a cesspit. Also, I prefer not to watch the news, I get it on the red button service. Has helped to not feel so depressed about all the crap going on.