Aibu to not have any interaction at all via social media

[yarncakes]

Daft question really as it is my choice but it's getting to the point where everyone asks me why haven't I got Facebook or my ds school says if I need to access any information I need to join their Facebook page, it took them ages to send me all the info to my email after explaining I don't have Facebook and they asked If I can sign up to it! Answer is NO.
In all honesty I don't want any social media account of any kind, I don't read the news anymore, all I do is go on Mumsnet, go on WhatsApp every now and then and watch YouTube videos for recipes and tutorials.
I left Facebook many, many years ago now as I joined it when I was about 15 if I remember right! Was sick of being on there and getting addicted instead of spending time with my ds and doing my crafty bits. I gave all my family and friends my contact number before I deleted it permanently, but not one of them have bothered to contact me.
I am worried our future or any accessible information is all going to be on Facebook.

Yet here you are spending time on MN sharing stories and no doubt reading the news threads.

You should just set up a FB account with no photo & just use for school.

It's awkward when one person is insisting on an email but everyone else is able to use FB to find out updates.

I'm pretty sure that all official information about term dates, newsletter etc will be emailed out & it's likely the last minute info about reminding people about mufti day that goes on there.

I think if you're that bothered about the information then you need an account rather than pestering the office admin person to send you an email every time an update is posted.

I'm the same as you op! No Facebook or Instagram, it's bliss!!

I think if you're that bothered about the information then you need an account rather than pestering the office admin person to send you an email every time an update is posted.

If she’s that bothered about information from a publicly funded organisation concerning her children she has to sign up to an account with a private third party business, where she might have ethical or privacy concerns?

@NiceGerbil

Isn't Mumsnet social media?

of course it is.

which is why threads like this ones are priceless

I'm with you Op

Yes I'm on MN and since lockdown I've had WhatsApp

But as for FB and messengers and Twitter and all other SM apps I have none.

School send emails and texts and there is no way I'd be joining any one of these things to keep abreast of school.

I’m quite young so it’s rare for someone my age not to use social media but I genuinely have no interest in it anymore. I used to fritter away hours of my life scrolling through Instagram and I just can’t be bothered anymore. I haven’t used Facebook for years, never really liked it. I told my DC’s school I don’t use Facebook and was almost looked at like I had two heads... They once put information on there but not anywhere else so I didn’t know.

@converseandjeans

You should just set up a FB account with no photo & just use for school.

It's awkward when one person is insisting on an email but everyone else is able to use FB to find out updates.

I'm pretty sure that all official information about term dates, newsletter etc will be emailed out & it's likely the last minute info about reminding people about mufti day that goes on there.

I think if you're that bothered about the information then you need an account rather than pestering the office admin person to send you an email every time an update is posted.

Why? The school can just as easily email everyone and that way nobody has to join FB. It is an external profit making business and I can't see why anyone should have to give them their personal details (or lie).

Mumsnet is a forum. Forums were around before FB and other social media.

I personally think it’s bizarre if you have a phone and use mumsnet, internet shopping etc. You don’t have to post. It makes loads of extra work for organiser remembering awkward Annie isn’t on and emailing - most won’t bother. You will feel crap when your child misses out. I run girl guides account - think one mum isn’t on - if she doesn’t want to see photos of daughter doing activities or info about trips etc fair enough but we can’t be sending stuff separately. My slimming group has one and a couple of ladies say oh we don’t want that Facebook rubbish but then ask for recipes (that are on the Facebook group). At Dd’s primary school we had a what’s app group (small class) I used it to invite them to Halloween party - completely forgot K’s mum didn’t do it and she was left out and upset.

@Dixiechickonhols

I personally think it’s bizarre if you have a phone and use mumsnet, internet shopping etc. You don’t have to post. It makes loads of extra work for organiser remembering awkward Annie isn’t on and emailing - most won’t bother. You will feel crap when your child misses out. I run girl guides account - think one mum isn’t on - if she doesn’t want to see photos of daughter doing activities or info about trips etc fair enough but we can’t be sending stuff separately. My slimming group has one and a couple of ladies say oh we don’t want that Facebook rubbish but then ask for recipes (that are on the Facebook group). At Dd’s primary school we had a what’s app group (small class) I used it to invite them to Halloween party - completely forgot K’s mum didn’t do it and she was left out and upset.

Why don't you have your own website/blog for your clubs?

Mumsnet and internet shopping is hardly the same as joining and using Facebook.

Got An advert about hacking and cyber security at the bottom of the page!

@AStudyInPink - but if the school has put the info on their website and in newsletters are the start of term, if you opt out of the platform they are using for reminders, the onus is on you to remember without a reminder.

"Don't forget red nose day" - well you need to remember yourself. "Here's a reminder of our snow closure policy" - this will be on the website / in the original paperwork sent when your child joined the school.

My dcs have been in school as key worker places this term, when it snowed, the school twitter feed updated at 7:15am saying they were open. The council's school closure page updated just before 8am. Its much harder to find the info on the council website, but it is there. The school twitter feed is much easier to find on a phone and updated earlier. There were also staff answering the phone who could confirm they were open from just before 8am. The info was available in other ways than SM, just SM was quicker and easier.

If you opt out of the easy option, you can't really complain it makes life harder for you.

But Margo it would have been just as quick for the school,to,put the info on their own website, or on their answer phone!

frogartist it’s a closed group so only approved people can see eg photos of the girls. In a meeting (obviously pre lockdown) we’d take pics and put them on as the activity is happening - parents like it and only parents can see. There’s an official Guide or SlimmingWorld website but I’m talking about our little group.
Schools should send emails or newsletters but Facebook is invaluable for quickly getting info across. Eg I’ve just arrived at hall and there’s been a pipe burst so meeting cancelled.

@Dixiechickonhols

frogartist it’s a closed group so only approved people can see eg photos of the girls. In a meeting (obviously pre lockdown) we’d take pics and put them on as the activity is happening - parents like it and only parents can see. There’s an official Guide or SlimmingWorld website but I’m talking about our little group. Schools should send emails or newsletters but Facebook is invaluable for quickly getting info across. Eg I’ve just arrived at hall and there’s been a pipe burst so meeting cancelled.

Well, I wouldn't trust it and it's certainly not closed to FB themselves!

@Frogartist

Mumsnet and internet shopping is hardly the same as joining and using Facebook.

just because YOU decide some social media are more acceptable than others doesn't change anything 😂

It's the same thing as posters judging others for watching tv because THEY watch it on their computer instead.

@Frogartist - assume same reason my book club has a Facebook group but not its own website, its a faff to set up a website for a small group when you can make a group on FB that's easy to find then invite people to in a couple of minutes.

The book club doesn't need a website really, you need a reading list and to have been told the meeting dates / times (which are the same every month). Its nice to have a place to have this as a reminder if you've lost your list, or to direct a new member to, rather than having to sort out getting a list to someone interested. Some members then use it to post up book suggestions or "our April book is in the kindle daily deals today!" type posts. You'd need a lot more work to set up a forum on a website, and really when there's only a post every other month, its not needed as such, just nice to have the option.

I guess the PP slimming world group is like that, they don't need to provide info on recipes, but having a place to share ideas / new recipes found for all members is handy.

frogartist but staff probably have to be physically be in building to update school website, certainly to answer phone.

If you don't want to join FB, you don't have to.

Just wait for the school to send you the information otherwise, don't moan because it takes longer

Not everybody has access to their website or school email system on their own phone, so a member of staff can quickly post an update on Facebook but need to go to the actual school (or at least at home) to send updates another way.

Same thing about clubs etc...🤷

Whatsapp is more intrusive as not everyone want to share their phone number with the entire world

@Frogartist - Well you have to normally be in the building to update an answering machine message going out, you might as well answer the phone, but that might be delayed if staff have to get in before doing it, whereas you can ping a tweet once you've agreed you are going in.

To update the website from your phone is much harder than having the twitter feed open.

The council policy is schools must tell them if they are closing for snow/weather, they then put it on their main closure page, and tell the local radio station. (The only time we listened to local BBC radio stations as a child was a snow day!). The info is available via formal channels for parents like the OP who doesn't like social media, but quicker via SM.

It makes life easier. If you don't want to use the extra resource provided beyond what they have to do, thats fine, but I dont see it puts the onus on the school or any other organisation to find other ways more acceptable to you to help you beyond what they need to do.

My local council also put all updates on FB and twitter

They update the website eventually, but if you want the information in real time (or not 3 days later), it's easier to be on social media.

You are looking at it completely the wrong way round: you are not penalised for not being on other social media than MN, the school (clubs etc...) are doing a favour by ALSO sharing the information quicker on Facebook.

Don't use it but don't complain if you miss things. The school will use what works for them and the majority of parents

My sister had no social media, she only has email as it made life easier when my mother died last year as we live 150 miles away, and getting documents was not always easy. I think I am the only one who knows her email address. She doesn't even have text capability on her phone. Her life seems so much simpler than virtually everyone else I know. She will speak on the phone or contact by post.