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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to not have any interaction at all via social media

109 replies

yarncakes · 14/02/2021 23:39

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.

OP posts:
captainprincess · 15/02/2021 13:08

I think you need to move with the times, just my opinion. I completely agree with not wanting to be on social media and checking your Facebook etc every 2 seconds, but as others have said I think having an account not linked to you is useful.
It is useful to know what's going on in your local area. Examples that I have found informative are, closed roads so have left the house earlier for work, if my internet goes down, someone may post there is work going on. And for me the main one is lost pets, won't go into detail but many many pets have been reunited through social media far quicker than they would have been if it wasn't there.

coulditbeanymorerubbish · 15/02/2021 14:19

Social media is useful in so many ways so I can't understand why you'd not want an account.

Cadent · 15/02/2021 14:29

I left FB in 2012, and never missed it. I re-joined under a fake name a few years ago so I could follow some groups, but don't share anything personal and have no RL friends on there.

If it makes life easier, why wouldn't you join under a nick name? Confused Unless you have far reaching concerns about FB harvesting personal info.

There's no longer any cachet in 'I don't do social media'. people stopped caring years ago.

muddyford · 15/02/2021 14:30

Schools, for most people, are organisations that parents have to engage with legally and not through choice. The school isn't some social club. If there is anything urgent, yes, they should use another method to contact you. That would be part of their legal obligation. I wouldn't join FB and would be wary of WhatsApp groups related to school too.

dayswithaY · 15/02/2021 14:41

I've never joined Facebook, I know my insecurities and I would be filled with envy and feel useless after five minutes of looking at photos of birthdays, nights out, family occasions and "making memories". I would just feel like I was back at school with nothing to say and with no one interested, like being picked last for a team in PE lessons.

I don't really feel that I miss out as I'm always in touch with my friends on WhatsApp and I find out what's going on locally through Nextdoor as it seems lately people post there more than on Facebook.

Twitter is easy to be anonymous and silent on, you can just go for a quick read. Same as Instagram, I'm aware it's all fake but I love looking at the home decor and photography. There's no pressure to post anything.

Facebook seems like you have to massively commit to it and post something amazing everyday, respond to people, like things, post pouty selfies. I just don't want to get dragged into other people's lives this much, I like being private.

I keep hoping people will get bored of Facebook soon.

Frogartist · 15/02/2021 16:13

@Spanielsarepainless

Schools, for most people, are organisations that parents have to engage with legally and not through choice. The school isn't some social club. If there is anything urgent, yes, they should use another method to contact you. That would be part of their legal obligation. I wouldn't join FB and would be wary of WhatsApp groups related to school too.
Exactly
Dixiechickonhols · 15/02/2021 16:25

There’s essential info and convenience though. A Guides example but equally applicable to a school would be coach trip coming back from abroad last year - pick up was officially 10pm. Ferry and traffic delays. Took a few minutes update Facebook via phone as we came up motorway so parents weren’t waiting 2 hours in cold. If you want to stand in cold for two hours as you don’t do some social media up to you but fortunately all parents were on Facebook saw updates, knew which coach we were and were stood waiting. Made life easier for all concerned.
Fish & chip van coming to out village this weekend - found out today on our community Facebook group. Not essential but good to know.

Frogartist · 15/02/2021 16:49

@Dixiechickonhols

There’s essential info and convenience though. A Guides example but equally applicable to a school would be coach trip coming back from abroad last year - pick up was officially 10pm. Ferry and traffic delays. Took a few minutes update Facebook via phone as we came up motorway so parents weren’t waiting 2 hours in cold. If you want to stand in cold for two hours as you don’t do some social media up to you but fortunately all parents were on Facebook saw updates, knew which coach we were and were stood waiting. Made life easier for all concerned. Fish & chip van coming to out village this weekend - found out today on our community Facebook group. Not essential but good to know.
If you had all the parents email or phone numbers in a group on your phone it would have been just as easy to send them a message though.
Dixiechickonhols · 16/02/2021 11:25

frogartist I don’t have access to that personal info as a volunteer (nor would I want it) and wouldn’t want to give my personal email or phone number to all those random people. Same would apply to teachers.

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