I don't have Social Media AIBU?

[NameChaaaaanges]

As per the title.
I have no facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat anything.

The president of the PTA texted me "hi what's your Facebook? I want to add you to the school page"

Me: I don't have Facebook

Her: WTAF? Are you serious? Who in this century doesn't have FB?!

I didn't reply.
I am happy with no SM. I was bullied at high school, I have social anxiety and although I do well in general with social situations I just have no desire to get or have SM.
AIBU and if you don't have SM, why not if you don't mind me asking?

It's entirely your choice and it is a valid choice.

However, it's good to remember that SM is a tool. Like any tool it could be harmful , useful,pointless etc. I don't get this need to anthropomorphise a tool. It's not evil, vicious etc. It can't be. It's all about how you use and depending on your settings,how others use it.

I have never had a FB argument or drama,mostly because I don't engage.
I have twitter and Instagram but don't really use them, especially twitter (I follow 5 accounts, one of them OH and the other DD's school)

Whatsapp is not social media, it's a messaging app that uses internet instead of data. A God send if you have family/good friends living in other countries as it makes calls/text free. That's how I keep in touch with my mum.

I'm the same OP.

I have a anonymous twitter account but that's it. I don't understand the popularity of things like Facebook and Instagram.

On our hockey team, every year our captain sets up a Facebook page and adds all the info to that. easy. Everyone can see it. People sort lifts.
Except one player who proudly announces each year she's not on fb.
Then the captain has to call her once a week with the details. Then call her again back and forth to arrange lifts. Then call her again for last minute changes.
It's just a little bit entitled.
(Obvo if you're not on it, but don't require 121 info like this, you're not being entitled)

I'm not really seeing what others are seeing here. Some of you have said that some that don't have facebook/social media think they are superior but I've not picked up on that at all. Everyone has their own reasons for why they are on facebook or off facebook everyone's different. My good friends are on it and i certainly don't think I'm superior to them and they don't think I'm strange for not having it. Its just personal preference 🤷🏻‍♀️

If I was the Captain of the hockey team I'd be tempted to ask non conforming player to find an alternative group communication that's acceptable to her, and to everyone else and then set it up for everyone. That would soon focus her mind...

The "I don't use social media, whilst posting on social media" thread has resurfaced yet again.

YVDNBU

Social media are private companies who claim ownership over all content that its users produce and sell it off to whoever they fancy with no thought whatsoever, or at least as little as they can get away with, for those users’ privacy, dignity or even safety. They also tefuae to take any responsibility for misuse of that content whenever it suits them. They are the absolute prime example of privatisation of our world - private profit public debt equivalent. Mandating that all communications have to pass through their hands is beyond unethical.

I am increasingly disgusted with school staff particularly - who call themselves professionals, worry incessantly about their status, and sneer at those below them- who should, given their jobs, know a little about communication and its issues, but know in fact nothing - and patently have no expertise or interest in developing it whatsoever.

Milicent Good god are you kidding me?! Where on EARTH did I say in any of my posts that I feel superior because I don't have it? Oh that's right I didn't!

I was asking whether other people have it, not making out I am Mother Theresa for not having it.

I suffer anxiety and your comment just made me feel like total shit. Thanks

@Sparkles333
You haven't done it, but the superiority comes from the 'it's so boring and tedious' comments which attempt to imply that said persons mind is above all that drivel. People could just say 'it's not for me' instead of insulting those who do use it.
@isabellerossignol
We should try that! This player is one of those people you wouldn't dare suggest anything to though!

I am increasingly disgusted with school staff particularly - who call themselves professionals, worry incessantly about their status, and sneer at those below them- who should, given their jobs, know a little about communication and its issues, but know in fact nothing - and patently have no expertise or interest in developing it whatsoever.

I want to hear more about the school staff who sneer, got any more details?

Social media are private companies who claim ownership over all content that its users produce and sell it off to whoever they fancy with no thought whatsoever, or at least as little as they can get away with, for those users’ privacy, dignity or even safety. They also tefuae to take any responsibility for misuse of that content whenever it suits them.

Sounds a lot like MN.

I don't even have a mobile phone. Try telling people that and see what reaction you get OP.

The only social media I have is via here on MN on my PC.

Me neither OP.

Life is so much simpler without

“Non conforming” is a crime now is it @isabellerossignol? Do you not think public organisations have any duty to communicate with people outside a narrow sphere of conformists, aka groupie thinkers, given the wide raft of communications available and its central importance in building relationships and societies?

As our ability to communicate has apparently increased exponentially and the volume has gone through the roof, the content and quality of it is dropping. As capability for tolerance should increase, our levels of intolerance are increasing and our societies are becoming more authoritarian. We are ever more vulnerable to totalitarianism thanks to the stranglehold private companies now have. Even Tim Berners Lee has finally acknowledged some of the issues of privatisation of the web.

am increasingly disgusted with school staff particularly - who call themselves professionals, worry incessantly about their status, and sneer at those below them

I'm a TA , bow before me peasants!

Seriously?

I do have Facebook and Instagram but I don’t think it’s odd not to. It’s purely a time waster for me - I say it’s a way to keep in touch with distant family, but that’s only true in that they are ‘friends’ on both. I’m not really interested in doing anything else to stay in touch, so this doesn’t offend them.

I rarely post on either.

MN has one big advantage over others: it’s anonymous. Obviously there’s ways around that, but it’s possible to minimise the ads and tracking. You’re right in a way though, I will come off it if it gets much worse.

Do you not think public organisations have any duty to communicate with people outside a narrow sphere of conformists,

Except that sphere is not so narrow,is it?

There’s some kind of strange mindset on MN that if you have no social media you’re somehow a superior being.

Have it or don’t have it. If you have it make it work for you. It doesn’t make you special either way.

I’m also a TA. I’m thinking more of the headteacher the op referenced, and many similar attitudes among teachers I’ve encountered; or did you like many now not read the op properly?

I meant the head of the school organisation of course! there’s an own goal.

I’m thinking more of the headteacher the op referenced... or did you like many now not read the op properly?

Perhaps you should read the OP more carefully. The OP didn't mention a headteacher, she was talking about the PTA.

there’s an own goal

Oh isnt it a pain when this happens

I’m another with no social media, It’s a waste of time with all its fake news stories and people with 5000 ‘friends’

@arethereanyleftatall
I suppose theres a mix of good and bad in everything. Even on here theres quite a bit of negativity mixed with some good advice and also funny stuff. Just have to try not let it bother us too much and come away from it if it does. I think there are a lot of positives to social media for those that use it correctly as there's a lot of lonely people that it helps. Its a shame you get the minority that spoil it at times. I personally only have whatsapp which is great with group chats and now this very recently as I'm a fairly private person. I just think its good to be kind to each other especially at times like this. 🙂