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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Quitting Facebook?

79 replies

BusyHomemaker · 30/12/2016 21:24

Has anyone done it? Did you regret it?

I check it way too often and it's not fulfilling but I fear I am addicted to it. It's a great way to keep in touch with distant family and friends but surely there are other, healthier ways to do this?

Has anyone a healthy relationship with Facebook who could pass on some tips/wisdom? How do you change from being a Facebook junkie to restoring healthy balance in your life?

I do realise it's unreasonable for a grown woman to be stressing over this!

OP posts:
Atticmatic · 30/12/2016 21:29

I was guilty years ago of checking it too often so I closed my account altogether. I re-joined last year and find it better now I only access it through a PC. I don't have the app or messenger on any of my portable devices.

I find I now only log in once a week which is great.

Honeyandfizz · 30/12/2016 21:41

I hate FB, came off it a few years ago. A month or so ago I rejoined, mainly because running groups I belong too post a lot of info on there. I only lasted two weeks before I deleted it again. I'm guess I'm the sort of person that doesn't want to know the ins and outs of other people's lives. Somehow I always end up feeling my life is shit in comparison, I don't need it in my life as it does not benefit me in the slightest!

museumum · 30/12/2016 21:43

Delete the app from your phone and only use it on a laptop.

dimdommilpot · 30/12/2016 21:43

I quit about 6 weeks ago. I was saying "just a minute" to the kids far too frequently so it had to go. I had already deleted the app but just went on the web page. I haven't regretted it and do not feel I am missing out. I never posted just condtantly checked my time feed. I have no plans to rejoin any time soon.

ThePinkOcelot · 30/12/2016 21:45

I really don't understand how people live their lives via FB. I used to be on, but deleted it. Some of the things people post are truly vomit inducing. I can't bear it.

FuzzyDiamond · 30/12/2016 21:47

I quit in July, I dont miss it at all. Anyone who is a true friend has your number.

twinklefoot · 30/12/2016 21:48

I have gone cold turkey from Christmas Eve. I have deleted the app and messenger and feel a lot lighter already. Smile I was checking it a few times a day and I felt it gave importance to people who I really couldn't care less. I also don't want to be innthe know of everyone 24/7. I just need to cull Mumsnet to once a day for an hour now!

katiegg · 30/12/2016 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SwedishEdith · 30/12/2016 21:49

Laptop only and only check once a day/every other day to post something inane, check messages/group updates and speed roll through timeline.

I prefer Twitter for the speed and anonymity - probably doesn't help Grin.

lilyb84 · 30/12/2016 21:50

I hate it. Quit 3.5 years ago and am much happier for it. I did rejoin 'secretly' for a while when I was running a DJ night (so only used it to admin a page) and when my antenatal group from here moved over to FB I was on a hidden group which was lovely for a while but I gradually felt all my social media anxiety creeping back so gave that up too.

I feel justified when old friends contact me literally years later having finally realised I'm not on there. Clearly they weren't paying much attention when I was Grin

peaCOCKness · 30/12/2016 21:52

I quit Facebook at the beginning of November. Best thing I could've done for my mental health, sanity and time paying attention to what I was doing with my kids. Occasionally miss it for finding info but I've survived and my life has genuinely improved and I used it a lot for lots of things (selling, friendship groups, family contact etc)

I still have messenger enabled though.

SparkleShinyGlitter · 30/12/2016 21:54

I done it about 5 years ago. I do not miss it on bit

I don't use Facebook/twitter/ whatever is cool now

I email friends/family regularly that I wish to stay in touch with and it's easy to send photos via email

LittleWingSoul · 30/12/2016 21:55

Deleted my account about 4 years ago. I don't miss it and anyone who I still really want to keep in contact with has not had a problem with doing so in all the myriad ways of communication we now have.

FB was not healthy for me.

I now spend all lot of my time scrolling through mumsnet aibu though... something I'm sure will level to a more normal use once life starts again next week!

Gingerbreadmam · 30/12/2016 21:55

i quit it about 5 years ago - best thing i ever did. i can now actually comverse with people in the street as i dont already know everything via fb!

Gingerbreadmam · 30/12/2016 21:55

i quit it about 5 years ago - best thing i ever did. i can now actually comverse with people in the street as i dont already know everything via fb!

Gingerbreadmam · 30/12/2016 21:55

i quit it about 5 years ago - best thing i ever did. i can now actually comverse with people in the street as i dont already know everything via fb!

Gingerbreadmam · 30/12/2016 21:55

i quit it about 5 years ago - best thing i ever did. i can now actually comverse with people in the street as i dont already know everything via fb!

minesapintofwine · 30/12/2016 21:57

I quit it two years ago. One of the best decisions I ever made for all sorts of reasons. Do it OP! Have a little me-party to celebrate like I would

TaggySits · 30/12/2016 22:01

I'm the first to admit I'm a bit of a technology 'Luddite', especially with regards to social media, but FB genuinely scares me. I'm not on it but had a flick through my DSis's account this eve and it was ridiculous the amount of personal information I found out about people in less than 5 mins! Totally confirmed all my reasons for not having it.

spankhurst · 30/12/2016 22:26

Quit 3 months ago, don't miss it one iota.

WellErrr · 30/12/2016 22:38

I'm seriously considering this! As well as a Mumsnet curfew. I'm fed up of looking at my bloody phone all day. It's ridiculous.

YouHadMeAtCake · 30/12/2016 22:40

I'm in the same boat OP. I live in another country and keep in touch and up to date through FB but I feel like you. It takes up far too much of my time and I was thinking of deleting the apps from iphone and iPad and just use it via laptop or desktop.

Deadsouls · 30/12/2016 22:44

I quit FB in August and don't miss it at all. And I don't feel like I'm missing anything. I find it an satisfying stream of drivel and the more time I have away the more I think it's a weird way to relate to people; very false. People who I'm friends with have my number, email, whatsapp and I kept messenger enabled. It really was a waste of time for me and gave me a lot of anxiety. Do it! It's such a good decision.

cherrycrumblecustard · 30/12/2016 22:46

I wasn't on it for years as my husband hated me on it, but I've recently rejoined to join in mummy groups Blush

I quite like having something to flick through my phone on. But I don't really use it much.

Champagneformyrealfriends · 30/12/2016 22:48

I'm on it but I find it dull. I don't care enough about other people's social lives to be that bothered though.