Social media and self esteem

[Imaginary86]

if you use social media often would you say it’s changed the way you feel about yourself? Does it make you feel better or worse for using it? For me it’s made me realise how lonely I am. Usually I love being alone and don’t see myself as being lonely but social media has made me realise I really don’t have any friends whilst in real life I enjoy being by myself and don’t see myself as a lonely person until I realised through SM that I don’t really have anyone. Would you feel bad if you hardly got any likes etc? Or does it really not bother you

I have felt exactly this recently. I am autistic, but high functioning and social media made me realise that even the people I would have considered friends go out in groups and the first I know of it is on Social media. I don't feel lonely in the real world, but feel isolated and excluded online.

Yes I feel exactly the same! The realisation I am a ‘lonely’ person only happens when I see something online

Social media makes me feel absolutely awful about myself.

I have a Facebook account so I can sometimes look at the local news. But otherwise I avoid social media. Even MN can really gave negative effects on my mental health.

I'm autistic. I live an extremely isolated life. I used to worry tremendously about not having many friends. Then a couple of years ago i was able to embrace being a loner to a certain extent- I suppose resign myself to it.And generally I'm ok so long as I avoid social media and am selective about where I go and avoid places and occasions and activities which I know will make me feel bad about myself.

Most of it is probably fake. People making out their life is perfect when it isn't at all. If I did have social media I wouldn't care less if I didn't have any likes.

I get tempted to delete it altogether but I’ll be completely out of touch with people then

Yes I agree with this! And I feel the same about social media and agree with you about mumsnet too. You sound like me in terms of living an isolated life and being a loner