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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To delete Facebook?

31 replies

Oopupsideyourhead · 08/10/2018 11:01

I’ve been on facebook for 10 years and have been a regular poster. But recently I have noticed that it doesn’t have a great effect on my mental health- comparison is a thief of joy and all that.

I recently took a month long break- and then went back on it- felt really calm and happy when not on it and immediately a bit shit when back on it.

I don’t know whether to permanently delete it or not- has anyone got rid of it for ever? How did it feel? I do stay in touch with some peope via it but I seem to be a bit all or nothing!!

Have recently got rid of Instsgram for similar reasons but Facebook seems harder to get rid of.

Aibu to delete it permanently or is that a bit extreme?

OP posts:
JellyBears · 08/10/2018 11:01

I’m pretty sure your account never really goes away so you could suspend it.

SuchAToDo · 08/10/2018 11:07

If you think it would benefit your mental health suspend or delete it...or if you can't bring yourself to do that then block or mute those in your timeline that are having an adverse effect on you (if you can't see their posts they can't affect you kind of thing)

NorthernRunner · 08/10/2018 11:10

I deleted the app as I found similar to you. I also deleted Instagram and to be honest, probably should delete mumsnet too as that probably has the same effects but it was a massive relief just getting rid of those two and I have no desire to go back. they would constantly make me fee shit about myself which isn’t fun!

Davespecifico · 08/10/2018 11:13

It's been wonderful as a way to help me reconnect with some lovely people from my past. I also really like looking at everyone else's photos.
I mute people who: make me feel inadequate, go on about conspiracy theories, swear constantly, share racist posts and post pictures of abused animals all day! It makes my timeline less stressful.
On balance I'd be better off just checking my notifications now and then rather than constant scrolling.

SpoonBlender · 08/10/2018 11:14

Oh hell yes. Toss the horrible poisonous thing.

laceygo · 08/10/2018 11:15

Maybe just have a cull of friends ? I'd miss it for event info and other local stuff , I've deleted friends who go on just to brag etc , but yeah if it's messing with your head then why not

WonderTweek · 08/10/2018 11:19

Get rid! I was like you, used it for 10 years and was fairly active on it but I’d just get really annoyed at people’s self-centered drivel so I deleted my account about two years ago and I feel great. 😃The account never truly goes away so you can log back in if you need to get in touch with someone (I did this twice to get a few phone numbers). I have more time on my hands (and on mumsnet 😂) and I talk to my friends and family about things instead of reading about them on Facebook.

CheNina · 08/10/2018 11:27

I deleted mine over a year ago. Best feeling ever. Does my head in when DP comes home and can literally spend an hour looking at people's boring photos and updates. It's a waste of time and full of total nonsense! If I bump in to a friend I haven't seen in a while now I can actually have a conversation with them without already knowing everything about them and their lives!

Original poster
Oopupsideyourhead · 08/10/2018 11:45

I think as I have got older, it’s become more of an issue for some reason. I was so much happier without it all in my head!

OP posts:
ashtrayheart · 08/10/2018 11:50

I have had the same thoughts as I have a very addictive personality! I deleted the app for a while as compromise but then found myself on Mumsnet all the time!
Really I should just ditch the iPhone and get an old school phone but I need it for work etc Confused
There is an app called feedless which blocks the feed, but then I just spent longer looking at people's profiles Blush

Morgan12 · 08/10/2018 11:58

Delete it. Best thing I ever did.

Morgan12 · 08/10/2018 11:59

Ok that was rather dramatic. It's not the best thing I've ever done hahaha. But it's great not having one.

stopgap · 08/10/2018 12:11

I deleted mine, too, after ten years. It feels wonderfully freeing.

PlinkPlink · 08/10/2018 12:21

Best decision me and OH ever made.

Horrible place. Sucks your self esteem down and your time away.

Life is much better without it. I can still keep in touch with people on WhatsApp and stuff so staying in touch is no problem. Email people who are further away too.

It's lovely getting rid of it... seriously, you'll wonder why you were on there for so long 😂

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 08/10/2018 12:33

Surely it's the people that you have on FB that are making you feel bad not actually FB itself?

What is it that's upsetting you? People bragging about their "perfect life/house/baby" etc?

I've found that only having people on it that I like or would spend time with in RL helps. Anyone that I wouldn't gets deleted. Works for me anyway.

OutPinked · 08/10/2018 12:35

Unsure whether it’s now changed but when I was on FB you couldn’t permanently delete an account anyway, only disable it which I did. I haven’t used FB for years, never really liked it tbh.

spacefighter · 08/10/2018 12:37

I disabled mine a couple of months ago, best thing I ever did. You can permanently delete it now too.,

Fatasfook · 08/10/2018 12:39

Keep messenger. Get rid of Facebook. You can deactivate it or just delete the app and never log in on safari

Goandplay · 08/10/2018 12:39

I suspended for 5 months and deleted permanently about 4 months ago. I am so ‘free’. I don’t know lots of irrelevant things, I’ve met up with some old friends because I can’t kid myself that I’m still friends with them just by seeing their pictures etc.
I am glad I have permanently deleted as recently I would have looked on there a couple of times and I’m so glad that option has been taken away.
My sister has done the same.

I feel secretly superior 😉 that I’m not wasting my time on Facebook now. My phone isn’t in my hands as much as before and I’m not boring people with my musings via the status update.

LucieMorningstar · 08/10/2018 12:40

I deleted my account about 18mths ago and I’m so glad I did. Occasionally my husband shows me posts from people we both know and they make me feel so annoyed that I just say I’m so glad I’m not on there anymore. The funny thing was that as some people realised I wasn’t on there anymore, they’d say things like “oh well you could have told me you’d gone”. I think Facebook will soon enough die a death and be like MySpace. It seems to be something people aged 25+ use nowadays IME.

Get off Facebook op, you won’t regret it.

GiBlues · 08/10/2018 12:41

Didn’t even read the OP, just do it.
Me and DH did it 5 years ago and we have never missed it, I also feel so much more content with my life because I’m not comparing to other people on social media.
Honestly OP you’ll never regret it

DamnWhyAreAllTheUsernamesTaken · 08/10/2018 12:42

My friend deleted the app but kept messenger so she could still chat to everyone, and had to log in through a browser if she wanted to read people’s posts etc. She said it made such a difference! Contemplating doing the same...

TheDarkPassenger · 08/10/2018 12:43

Try the new iPhone features it only lets you have a certain amount of social media per day (mumsnet is counted in that btw- even on safari!) and then blocks all notifications and darkens the app and gives you a white screen when you try to go on it x

GameOldBirdz · 08/10/2018 12:44

I've never been on Facebook.

I see friends and colleagues who are actually suffering quite badly with things like anxiety, feeling inadequate, or just being bloody angry all the time. I genuinely think so much of this is down to the amount of time they waste spend on Facebook; comparing themselves to others or being constantly fed news stories which get them riled up.

I just don't get it. Delete the bastard thing.

momentomori · 08/10/2018 12:46

You can definitely permanently delete it (but you have to look around a bit for the option as they don't want to make it easy for people) I deleted mine for the same reasons as you OP and my life is defo better without it :)