aibu to want to permanently come off FB? Has anyone managed it successfully?

[ILoveTotoro]

For me, it is really not a good place at the moment. I think it can make people behave in a toxic way and I include myself in that

But at the same time I know I am absolutely addicted to it, I have been off less than a week and I am missing it like mad. but I am not missing the anxiety I feel when I am actually on it. But for some reason I have serious FOMO. I don't even know why, as I am in touch with the ones I want to be in touch with on whats app and texts etc. and I still have instagram but I find that a nicer space for some reason.

I was a smoker for years and quit, cold turkey, ten years ago ....and for me, this is way way harder than quitting the cigs was. So was just wondering if anyone else has completely quit fb and if it gets easier (please say yes) and also if anyone has any tips or advice.

I had a six months break in 2016 and then deleted it for good in 2018. You can export all your data if you didn't want to lose pictures or messages (that's what kept me there for ages). I haven't missed it.

I tried to kick Twitter at the same time and failed miserably but I don't follow friends or family on there so can mute/block if necessary with no drama.

Yes since November 2018.

Deleted 18 months ago, best thing I have done in awhile, don't miss it at all, I also deleted instagram, again don't miss it at all.

I deleted mine several years ago after reading a post asking if everyone's eyes watered when they had a poo. I don't need this in my life. It had to go. I then created a false account where I follow local shops and businesses. I found they update their FB accounts more than their websites. Useful when the veg shop has fresh strawberries in!

I deactivated mine about 2 months ago because of some drama that was making me incredibly anxious. I feel very free without it. No logging in to see what shiny, “perfect” lives everyone is living, no over exposure to current events, no stupid opinions delivered as “facts”. It’s great and I don’t miss it.

I did delete Instagram initially too, but I like photography and find it a bit more positive. I treat Instagram more like a personalised magazine and purposefully limit the amount of time I spend on there.

I removed a load of friends and unfollowed the rest, it sounds daft but I pay for and follow a fitness page that only uses that platform so I wanted to stay on for that. It has made such a difference. I’d of removed everyone but that will cause drama so just unfollowed

I came off a few years ago. It took a good few months to get over it and stop missing it (!) but after that I stopped thinking about it. It wasn't good for my mental health.
I reactivated my account last week, as it is a good way of finding out about local businesses. They keep their Facebook page much more up-to-date than their website. When I reactivated, I unfriended everyone except my husband and made all the privacy settings ridiculously strict, so I don't think anyone can even ask me to be a friend now. Don't want to get sucked back in!!

I have Facebook but just don't look at it. I like to have the option of sending birthday greetings to people occasionally and sometimes posting/commenting on important personal events. I don't find I get sucked into it often but I do find that some people (who I normally like) post things that irritate me so I just ignore it most of the time.

I am not very active but I find it handy getting local information via some fb groups, DD’s riding stable is preferring FB to their website for updates and I am in some fb groups for my hobby.

But, I only have friends I actually know, some I may not see often as they live away and it is nice to find out what they are up to.

So, more a user than a poster.

But, I do ignore posts I find annoying, stay clear of clique behaviour and prefer not to share all kind of personal information.

I deleted mine 3 days ago. I can’t tell you the strangely instant relief I felt.

Just go cold turkey and keep your real friends on your mobile phone. Lots of FB is pretend "I have a fab life, look at me" crap. One girl I knew was posting tons of pics & saying what a fabulous time she always had with her bf etc - turned out was just for effect as she didn't like him that much and was hoping to find someone new etc etc but meantime she wanted everyone to think she was having a great time, I suppose so she didn't lose face. I felt a bit sorry for her because why go that far? Why bother posting what is in effect lies on FB?! Re the MN-er who said people seemed to forget her birthday once off FB, they all only remembered cos they saw the OTHER folk wish her HB there - true friends dont forget yr birthday! FB - read fabulous life, popular person, always having fun times then find out mainly exaggerated. So get off FB and live a real life!

I want to come off it too. I'm so entrenched in it though. I admin two groups, follow interests on there. I have decided to make liberal use of the unfollow button. Its already worked wonders on my mental health.

I just did this three weeks ago...and I find myself on MN much more. The only thing I miss is the marketplace because I want to seek some stuff and it's convenient.

It's not too bad...I'm enjoying being off.

Do it. I'd deliberated internally for a while and in a fit of pique, witnessing yet another petty drama play out between some friends and family, deactivated the account 10 yrs ago. Not sure how long after that, but I went back later and did the permanent deletion. Best thing I ever did.

I would love to but I can't. The group I volunteer with communicate via Facebook and so do dds sports teams.

It feels great - do it! I came off FB a while ago, I liked a PP’s expression that it’s a time sink - it is! And one that makes you feel strangely shabby too.

I came off Instagram recently, which I felt sadder about but that’s been okay. You don’t need it in your life - it’s so much better to just WhatsApp your actual friends etc. Facebook can be a major irritant

You can permanently delete but it gives you the option to deactivate instead (and then you log back in and it’s reactivated, delete and forget was the better option for me)

Deleted my account over 8 years ago. Never missed it, never will. Facebook is complete and utter bullshit. Just do it. You will feel so much better.

Never had it, never will. Happy in real life, visiting real friends and doing real things without all the drama.

I never really understood the obsession with FB, even in its hey day I was never particularly interested in the newsfeed section & never did status updates. I still have an account only because all my extended family is abroad but go on maybe once every few months.

You can definitely do it, OP. Esp since you quit smoking cold turkey. I deleted mine years ago. All social media pisses me off these days, tbh. My husband still has a Facebook though. He tells me about it sometimes and it's always such utterly tedious twattery.

I deactivated mine after having yet another argument with a stranger online in March.
I have logged in and deactivated it 3 times since then as I was looking for photos that I knew were on there. I actually haven't missed it, the first few weeks were hard but once you get used to not using it, you don't miss it at all.

You've got this!!!!

I deleted mine three years ago. I do have an IG account, but keep it small (200 followers, all people I know) and post infrequently. Plus, for me personally, it isn’t as addictive a platform as Facebook.

Deleted FB and IG 2 years ago. It wasn't making me happy, it was altering my mood and adding no value whatsoever to my life. Best decision ever. I feel so light.

Is there a way of using it differently instead?

E.g. I only use it on my laptop at home; I don't have internet on my phone. So am not checking it constantly when I'm out like some people.

And you could unfollow some of the pages/people/groups that make it unhealthy for you.

I run or admin a number of groups on there (including one that is relevant to my volunteering in real life), so I can't and wouldn't want to leave it entirely.

Plus I am autistic and it helps me stay connected to friends and family much better than I did before it existed. Similarly some of my friends are also autistic and find it useful in the same way.