Have you ever had a permanent break from SM?

[RainbowBriteUk]

I have a Facebook account and post on it regularly. I have a few close friends on there but the rest are acquaintances. I find myself re-posting quotes and a few pointless posts about places I've been and pets. My profile pics are of me with lots of makeup and perfect hair (a rarity). I find my 'friends' posts either attention seeking or dull. Basically full of fakery about their 'perfect' lives.

I'm considering shutting down my profile permanently with the aim of leading a more happy, fulfilling life away from social media. Has anyone ever done this and seen benefits?

Thanks :)

Did this a couple of years ago. BEST decision ever. Once I realised I didn’t need to be on there to still stay friends with people. I don’t have Instagram either but do have WhatsApp so I find the people that want to stay in touch do and it’s much more meaningful.

I'm off it for good, I have an instagram account with no followers or following just for looking up companies or celebs. I haven't once thought about going back to it, it's full of fake shit these days and people attention seeking

Me! Fb is such a drain on time, and nearly everything on there irritates me. Don't have insta either, just read/post on MN a bit. Time to read proper books and articles, and all the other things I felt too busy for.
Highly recommend!

I’m off Facebook and have been for about six months. It’s great! I am deactivated rather than deleting the whole profile as it’s handy to nip back on every now and then. But honestly it’s a liberation. When I log back in it’s so…boring. Just people moaning and people arguing.

I’d love to leave Insta behind but I do enjoy that one a bit more.

I assume we are not counting MN as social media here?!

I don't have Facebook or Insta or any of the others. Less stressful. And avoids awkward conversations with work colleagues about friend requests etc.

Deleting your account won't instantly make your life happy and fulfilling (esp since happiness is a transient emotion you can't feel all the time!). But it might remove some toxic stuff.

Same here, just an anon FB and Twitter account to keep an eye on the things I want without any ‘friends’/actual friends attached to them.

Stepped away from FB and Instagram several years ago.

Best thing I ever did.

Wish I could break free from MN though but it's very addictive. The current anti MIL thread is making me rethink though. Such a sad thread in so many ways.

I’ve been off all social media for years and am much happier for it. I don’t need fake Facebook rubbish in my life and the people who are important, stay in touch. I actually can’t stand Facebook at all.

This is SM.

I still use Facebook but have blocked 99.9% of people on my friends list from showing up in my news feed. I use it exclusively for groups and following pages - the local playgroup, a group for vegans in my area, one for women in my career etc. I never post anything personal on there and haven't posted any pictures for about 3 years now. I don't have any other SM and never have (unless MN counts of course).

Yes if you don't count Mumsnet

@Yummypumpkin

This is SM.

That’s very debatable since it’s anonymous.

I've not had a fb account since 2014 but I was addicted to Instagram up until midway through this year. I had enough of wasting time on it, and losing sleep with the mindless scrolling. I deleted it and I've never looked back I feel better for it because when I take photos and videos I do it to keep them for memories sake and not to post for others to see. I'm able to be more in the moment and spend less time on my phone... I'm still yet to cut down on MN though!

I did delete my Facebook account a few years back and loved it. I now have a new Facebook account however I unfollow the few friend’s I have on there so I don’t have to see posts about their lives. I would love to delete it altogether but it’s useful for updates on the children’s clubs and one or two study discussion groups. I spend little time on there though. I don’t have instagram, deleted WhatsApp. Spend a little time on Mumsnet and that’s it now. Definitely happier when not on it at all and more anonymous which I like.

so I find the people that want to stay in touch do and it’s much more meaningful

Exactly. Some people seem to have a mindset of "needing" to "stay in contact" via SM with everybody they've ever met. Like they're trying to collect contacts as a security blanket.

Do you need updates on the life of somebody you once met briefly on holiday 8 years ago? Or somebody you haven't seen since you left school 23 years ago? Or met at a conference? Is that a meaningful relationship?

@Lacedwithgrace

I'm off it for good, I have an instagram account with no followers or following just for looking up companies or celebs. I haven't once thought about going back to it, it's full of fake shit these days and people attention seeking

I did this too, deleted FB, Snapchat and Insta but have a zero following or followers one for tips and research for clothes, beauty etc.

Best thing I've ever done. I don't miss knowing what other people are having for tea or what the weather is like outside their window! X

I use FB to stay in touch with the other puppy "parents" from the litter that my younger dog came from...... and I follow lots of dog breed groups. It's been invaluable when I've had issues with mine..... other than that I've got about 12 friends who are all immediate family.

I had a massive purge getting rid of casual acquaintances and distant family members........ hence I don't get annoyed by my newsfeed any more.

No, but I use SM differently. I don't post about myself. I use it to follow interests and post about them. It is so much more enjoyable now.

I came off Facebook 2 years ago tomorrow and it was the best thing I’ve done as a new year resolution (and the only one I’ve stuck to).
I use Instagram but even then I don’t post too much. I found I was just scrolling through Facebook constantly and it was so dull and wasting my time.
Get yourself off it. You won’t be disappointed