People who have no social media

[Isbemorelikemeandbelesslikeyou]

I find it intriguing.

Just started working for someone new, was having a nosey looking for them on social media. The man isn’t on it at all, can’t be found, zero when typed into Google, the woman has a Fb profile that looks like from a long time ago, with 29 friends…that’s it, nothing else.
Does anyone find that unusual, or if you’re like this, why?
They are youngish, late 30’s, professional, good looking etc..these type of people usually have the lot on Sm.

I just find it intriguing

I’m late 30s and have zero social media presence. I had facebook when it first came out and I was at university. Deleted it in my late 20s when my parents’ siblings and friends started to join. I have a completely anonymous Twitter account but I don’t tweet / reply / like etc - I use it to follow a good range of news outlets. The only other SM I’ve ever had was a MySpace page, but I’m not sure the term “social media” was even invented by then! I don’t think it’s that unusual for people my age to choose privacy over sharing everything with the world.

I only do whattapp groups and mumsnet.

Well done them!! I was persuaded to join Facebook when I moved to where we now live 10 years ago, I was told I’d never get invited to anywhere if I didn’t. HUGE MISTAKE. No one uses it now, and it caused me really unpleasant friendship issues at one point. If I could go back…. Have no other SM, don’t plan to. Best gift you can give your kids is anonymity.

Other than MN - but that’s ‘anonymous’ ish..

You won't find me on a google search as I've had a stalker and I make anyone who has posts linked to me remove them.

FB is full of chat groups & forums now. Plus ads. Even out of those that use its it's limited for family sharing. M

Surprised people appear not to know that all sites have a do not follow setting for the Google /SE index, so my name won't come up as a Facebook/LinkedIn etc profile on Google, but it does exist. This thread is making me think I should delete that too though!

My Brother has no social media at all
Nothing!
You wouldnt find a thing about him anywhere

His partner only has Fb, But she hasnt been on it for atleast 4 years

My partner only has FB , but very rarely goes on it
He also doesnt own a mobile either

Phil is that you??? @UserNameSameGame

It is damaging for my mental health and I CBA putting on an augmented and curated version of my life up for others to see.
in this day and age, it means I’ve ended up losing touch with some people but, frankly, if we’re only friends/you only remember I exist if you follow me on IG, then we’re not friends

In real life I changed my name to 'Thelnebriati' just to confuse stalkers. That'll learn 'em.

I was struggling with breastfeeding and DD had colic. I felt like an absolute failure and seeing everyone else getting out and about with their babies with full makeup on when I could barely shower made it worse. None of it was my fault as it turned out DD had tongue tie but seeing everyone's perfect lives made me feel inadequate. I had a few friends message me and reassure me that most of what people put on sm is not reality but I just felt, and still feel, like I've failed. I never got to exclusively breastfeed and the first 5 weeks of DD's life was fraught, I don't have happy memories of it.
I have a colleague whose baby was born 5 days after mine and her life is insta perfect. I'm happy for her but sad for me and my family.

Mumsnet is social media, so all of you saying you are not on social media are ill informed about what social media is.

I only grudgingly have a FB account and barely use Instagram - just to see photos of my nieces etc.

I actually deleted FB a few years back and loved it but ended up creating a new one as it was a nightmare keeping in touch with all my overseas relatives by email - with FB it's more acceptable to just leave quick comments or likes rather than feeling obliged to write a 'proper' message.

I just reached a stage where I started to actually prefer keeping my life to myself and close friends. It feels odd to me to know what car a workmate from years ago drives, what they did on the weekend, what their family/partner/kids/house look like. All this despite maybe not having seen them for years.

I honestly think it's a weird sort of validation tool for a lot of people. Well, maybe not so much validation so much as the illusion of being connected. I just kind of prefer to keep good memories amongst those who I shared them with nowadays. Where I'd have previously shared a photo online I often decide not to now.

I'm not some kind of weird hermit like some people seem to assume people without social media are. I see a lot of people in real life and hit the gym loads rather than sitting around flicking through pictures I'll forget within a couple days. Hate sitting about in front of screens nowadays unless it's a good movie.

Loads of my friends complain about how hard it is to get in shape/lose weight but spend more time on SM than the 3-4 hours they'd need in the gym each week. Meanwhile I'm feeling great, got a flatter stomach and better arse at 31 than I had a 21 and I'm deadlifting 140kg like a fucking boss.

Two of my friends aren’t on sm and don’t spend time on their smartphones. We were talking about it, how they sleep better than the rest of us and are so much more relaxed. I use it against my son all the time lol. I wish I could walk away from stupid phones!!!!

I applaud the people who can still function in life without social media. It must feel so liberating.

I have a colleague whose baby was born 5 days after mine and her life is insta perfect. I'm happy for her but sad for me and my family.
You do know insta perfect isn’t real life perfect don’t you? You know people stage pictures and a second later their kids are running off or crying or the room is messy again? I remember a friend laughing because people started commenting on how clean her floor was. She replied‘I’m actually in the good room In Mum’s house, the floor at home is covered in the kids’ stuff, I’d never share a picture of the kids playing on it😅’

I can't tell if this is a joke or not.

It’s not a joke, sadly.

I know many people who have tried to delete social media but end up going back to it very quickly as they can’t be without it.

Myself included. I’m introverted and without Facebook I’d never really hear from anyone - except for my own immediate family either in person or via WhatsApp/text message etc.

I hate social media but I love it at the same time.

I haven't used things like Facebook or Instagram for years. I didn't like how nosy and stalkery everyone was on it.

Oh I see.

I don't count WhatsApp as social media and I'm confused why people do.

I have deleted Twitter once for a couple of years - was originally on it for promoting a side business - and went back for art etc but I forget to look at it.

I joined MN because of lockdown.

But, I am not bothered about hearing from "acquaintances" and don't want to see people's ordinary daily life updates. People do still contact me, maybe because they know I haven't got any contact methods through social media.

tbh MN has just become a bad habit.

I always find it interesting when people like this PP are so aggressive about not having it. Like it hits a nerve discussing it or something. I have social media and love it. Only have friends and family follow me and it's closed to everyone else so I don't see it any different to sending pictures of what I'm up to to a family or friends whattsap group.

Apart from MN I've never had any other SM.
I'm not the slightest bit interested in what's going on in my neighborhood. I'd rather nail my flaps to the coffee table than join in neighbourhood nonsense.

I have a bit but rarely use it, Facebook for example is seen as an older persons social network now and I left around 10 years ago because it was a combination of desperate attention seeking, clear social media lies/posed photos to look good in fron of 'friends' and general bitching and whinging. If people have to tell you how great their life/relationship/financial situation is. It isn't.

I use LinkedIn as it's really useful and my last 3 jobs have come from recruiters on there, plus while ignoring the self help crap from so called 'coaches' it's good to see people's careers develop and see their success stories.

Twitter - I have an account where I basically just follow interesting or funny accounts. I rarely if ever actually write anything but it generally makes me chuckle.

MN - this is a boredom filler and often during the week when I'm on trains for work or on lots of long boring calls.

Quora - because despite a lot of crappy stuff on there, by following a number of writers across a range of subjects, I learn a lot and it actually adds more to me and my brain than any of the others combined.

I have it but since having children never post anymore, as my life is the kids I have nothing else to talk about right now 😂