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Original poster

To consider 'taking a break' from social media?

77 replies

Lifeonmars77 · 02/01/2019 14:52

Hi all

First post here and wanted some views/experiences of anyone who has taken a break from Facebook, Insta etc - or in fact decided to leave it behind altogether.

I suffer with anxiety and I'm starting to wonder whether social media is a factor in there somewhere. I mean apart from finding it slightly addictive and being glued to the phone (guilty!) the constant comparison to others and whether we should/could be living our lives in a certain way is possibly resulting in overthinking, anxious thoughts and not helping my cause.

If you've decided to ditch the social media (for whatever reason) I wondered if you'd mind sharing your experiences? Or am I being totally unreasonable to think it's contributing to my anxiety and overthinking the whole thing?!

OP posts:
SisterOfDonFrancisco · 02/01/2019 14:56

It may not be just social media but also certain TV programmes, lifestyle magazines etc. Might be worth thinking about their role as well. You could try with a break and see if it helps.

Cat1nthehat · 02/01/2019 14:56

I’ve done it for Xmas and although I keep missing stuff..pregnancy announcements etc..I have enjoyed Xmas and new year much more without the constant comparing myself to others. I may go back on but every time I think about it, I decide against it.

Girlicorne · 02/01/2019 14:57

I did this in june, I was going through the most horrific time of my whole life and on the verge of a complete breakdown. I felt Facebook was making it so much worse so I deleted the app but not my account. I don't miss it but I do now waste a lot of time on here instead!!

DontFindYourselfInMe · 02/01/2019 14:57

I did it for about a month before and I found I had loads of extra time on my hands to do other things. But, as I am living abroad and have no family here, I felt I was missing out on stuff and communication became harder. FB is easier to talk to my mom and sisters and even my 92 yr old grandpa uses FB.

But I do also find myself comparing to others and I end up feeling guilty or jealous that I'm not doing what they are doing or have what they have etc.

Honestly if it wasn't for the fact I use it to keep in touch with my family, then I think I would ditch it for good as I do believe social media has a big part to play in the amount of depression and anxiety seen in people these days. It's just so much pressure !

Original poster
Lifeonmars77 · 02/01/2019 15:05

Yes I've moved about an hour and a half from my family, including my mum who loves to see updates and posts about the children etc. That's the only thing stopping me at the moment but I suppose I could use Whatsapp or something for that.

OP posts:
baileys6904 · 02/01/2019 15:05

There has been many many studies on the psychological impact of social media and from my research, I do believe it can massively interfere with your mental health.

If you are reluctant to delete completely, maybe see if theres a specific person or topic that you are finding tougher? You can hide peoples posts in your feed, or unfollow them, so you are still friends, but don't see their updates.

How do you use it? To stay in touch with people, to waste a bit of time, to post pictures etc? Maybe theres a different platform you can use to do the stuff you want to do, but negate the stuff you don't?

Picture apps such as Instagram have been found to exaggerate issues people have with body insecurities for example, so maybe twitter or facebook better.

I have rapidly decreased my use of facebook which is my primary platform (so much so that they couldn't even do my new year video as not enough content :/) lol but I have so much more time on my hands now and I suppose even when I do read peoples posts, I tend to do it with 'work eyes'

WhyDontYouComeOnOver · 02/01/2019 15:11

I use an app that limits me to an hour of each social media app a day. It works for me.

hellswelshy · 02/01/2019 15:15

I deactivated FB exactly one year ago! I haven't missed it at all, it suprised me how little in fact. For me it had started to become a habit and not a good one as it seemed to increase negative thoughts about other people and a touch of paranoia too - ie why hasn't xyz 'liked' my photo??

It's not healthy, in my opinion, to know so much about everyone's comings and goings, and much of it is so fake and distorted anyway. I don't think I will ever reactivate my FB account, it's like a weight has been lifted!!

HollaHolla · 02/01/2019 15:17

I took a break from Facebook for similar reasons, OP. That was almost two years ago. I’ve very rarely missed it, and my mental health is considerably better for it.

Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 02/01/2019 15:18

You will only get answers off people who haven't tried to give up or have failed to give up social media, any one who was successful won't be able to answer as they won't read this post

loubluee · 02/01/2019 15:18

I did about two years ago. Friends now know I pop in to look once every few months. Yes I miss birth, marriage, death announcements, but most will iMessage me if they want me to know. To be honest when I do pop on it’s a case of same old, same old!

rabbitfoodadvocate · 02/01/2019 15:23

Ditched it all and have never been happier!

Have been without Facebook for almost three years and Insta for six months.

pineapplebryanbrown · 02/01/2019 15:23

Not one member of my family (including a teenager and young adult DC) does SM at all. I think it causes a lot of problems. My kids both tried it for a couple of months but decided against it and i want people to know less about me, not more.

Consolidateyourloins · 02/01/2019 15:26

I'm not on social media anymore and don't miss it at all, but I do think I need to get off MN Smile

FredaFox · 02/01/2019 15:28

Another here that deactivated Facebook. Several years ago now. Initially I was bothered about missing things I did like about it. Friends announcements etc but actually true friend would tell you anyway.
I feel better for it
I still have Twitter and I've found more friends are using Instagra m now so once again I see their important snaps so 1 pic instead of 30 on Facebook)

DontFindYourselfInMe · 02/01/2019 15:30

@hellswelshy I have that paranoia a lot too about why a certain person doesn't like my pic or status and it definitely cannot be healthy to know so much about people's lives! My teenage son hasn't bothered with any SM thankfully but I would HATE to be a teenager in a social media world. If it can have such a negative impact on an adults mind, then what does it do to a teens mental health!?

nutellalove · 02/01/2019 15:31

It definitely does contribute to problems and many studies have shown the negative effects of social media.

I found it not realistic to delete completely as is required to stay in touch with foreign friends/family etc. I deleted the FB and Instagram apps from my phone. So I have to log in to my computer to check them. I find I do this only about once a week because am on my computer less than phone.

Yes, I miss engagements etc. But I personally would hope a close friend/family would tell me personally on WhatsApp/phone etc that they were engaged or pregnant. No need to really bother with updates from 'Sally' from school about her 3rd child

coffeekittens · 02/01/2019 15:32

Ditch it, social media can be toxic. I ditched it for 2 years, I slept more, was a lot happier and had more money (as I wasn’t tempted to buy things after being influenced or made hungry by pictures of peoples takeaways). I’m just about to deactivate everything again now as I’ve slipped back into my old ways and I’m sick of seeing posts of perfect homes and bodies that make me feel like a fat slob.

BunnyCake · 02/01/2019 15:35

I deactivated it 3 years ago and it was the right decision for me.

Polskieexpat · 02/01/2019 15:36

I stopped posting on Facebook about 2 years ago apart from the odd picture here and there. About 6 months ago I deactivated my account. You can still use messenger even if your profile is deactivated so I can still keep in contact with people who are on there and not whatsapp. Not sure it's done much for me but I feel better knowing there's less on the internet about me now especially with a baby on the way. No chance of me putting any pictures of him on there.

Deleting Instagram did make a massive difference though. I stopped comparing myself to all these 'perfect' women and their lives and I don't miss it at all!

Printerneedsink · 02/01/2019 15:36

There plenty of other ways to keep in touch with people! Just do a group email instead,or eve send them a letter!

BartonHollow · 02/01/2019 15:37

I took a "break" from social media two years ago, not been back - highly recommend it

Printerneedsink · 02/01/2019 15:39

onlyjoined:MN isn't social media,it's a forum.

museumum · 02/01/2019 15:40

I actually find fb healthier than mn. Because people use mn for support when things are going badly I find it really negative and it can make me a bit paranoid about relationships and friendships and anxious.
My fb circle on the other hand is pretty friendly and supportive and genuine.

Huntawaymama · 02/01/2019 15:41

I want to get rid of Facebook, I got rid of instagram and snapchat 7m ago and don't miss them. I've got so much baby stuff to sell though so I'm keeping facebook for now to use the selling pages. I also like it for finding out what kids things are on as noone ever advertises via newspapers anymore

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