Has anyone deleted social media and felt happier?

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I’m 26 and sometimes when I’m out somewhere nice, I love to take some good pictures.
Sometimes I like to get some of me smiling, especially in scenic places, but when people tell me to pose or pretend to look away, I can’t do it. I feel like I don’t love myself enough 😂.
I see some girls I know who post 5-6 pictures a night, of them standing up against a wall, or lifting their leg up, or looking in the distance, or standing in a lift, anything. And I just don’t understand how that’s an enjoyable way to spend an evening? I also spend a lot of time with people who are out and they just sing into their cameras or make tiktoks (literally just them miming) and I don’t get it.

I keep seeing the majority of people I follow make themselves look like models with some of their poses and, whilst I don’t understand doing this, I can’t help but feel awful about myself. Some very plain looking girls making themselves look like models due to good lighting, insane make up and poses. I don’t care enough to do this but god does it make me feel ugly!!!

I’m thinking of deleting social media for this reason but I use it to keep up with my friends and I’m just not sure. Has anyone felt better for this?

Meant to say - I totally understand that social media can have a really detrimental effect on some people, but I can't help thinking that SM use is a symptom rather than a cause. If you're struggling with drama and show-offy friends on SM, surely the real problem is that you've got show-offy friends?

I find it so bad for my mental health, I haven’t posted a picture of myself on there for years and year and try to keep my friends list to family and people I actually know but it still has a negative effect on me. Unfortunately I’m self employed and most of my business comes though SM so I have to have a presence there.

one thing I have noticed since being self employed is that when potential clients message me and I see their profile picture it always gives a completely false impression of what they will be like in real life. So often I see pics of young beautiful people looking so sporty and outdoorsy up a mountain or similar and when I actually meet them them that impression couldn’t be further from the truth!

I agree and don't particularly like social media, was pressured into joining facebook and gave in. I keep very private on there (as far as possible), and never post photos. You cannot have a decent discussion, it's all superficial. I cringe at some of the things others post. I aim to give it up.

I deleted facebook 3 years ago and dont miss it at all. I use insta sparingly, mainly gardening and running accounts, nothing that will make me feel down or negative. I use twitter for news and dont tweet or follow anyone other than news outlets/journos etc.

It is freeing not spending time uploading, scrolling, retaking pics etc. During lockdown I started an actual scrapbook and put loads of pics into albums, I find I actually get them off the shelf to have a look. No need for others validation I enjoy my pics for me. Do it, you wont regret it!

Try a week off X, whatever it is, and make sure you are not upping Y and Z to compensate. See what it truly means for you by its absence and the other opportunities it creates.

I have gone low social media. I come and go on Mumsnet, have a non-English language account I dip into very occasionally and an anonymous Twitter that follows some niche news and work related accounts. Everything else has gone and I don't miss it.

I am hoping to give up Fakebook...it makes me feel sad. I am not an influencer nor do i want to be one.
And what is all that stupid miming on Tiktok about? Total cringe but dd loves it!

I'm not on it. Just made me feel crap and inadequate all the time.
Yet I've noticed that people are much more likely to just put a quick 'like' next to someone's FB photo rather then making the actual effort of sending a quick text or whataspp message to stayin touch. So that's depressing.
FB creates a false environment, an 'intimacy' with others that isn't really there. Anyone can press like on a photo. Takes no effort. It's hardly a meaningful connection

I find it interesting what bothers different people on socials.

For me, I'm unbothered by good looks, home decor, and holidays (just think oh they're pretty, their home is lovely, oh I'd like to go there, and give them a follow but I don't feel down about any of it).

But when I'm feeling lonely and someone posts that they're out with friends, I get a little niggle. I don't know why, as I have a group of supportiive friends I love. It is the strangest thing. I also hide away on socials on my birthday, as people do or don't send bday messages (this was worse when I was on FB and again, no idea why it matters to me. Embarrassed by my feelings on this tbh).

I deleted FB years ago as it seemed to affect me the most, but I'm on other platforms. You can always try uninstalling the apps and see how you feel.

I hide so many people and it makes a big difference. Also regular breaks.

I deleted Facebook during lockdown. I'd been considering it for a while as I didn't like how they prioritised posts, and all the adverts and clickbait news articles with everyone squabbling amongst themselves. Once I found out I could delete Facebook but yet keep messenger with my Facebook friends on messenger I thought that was a great deal and I have never looked back.

I used to use Facebook but came off it for many of the reasons that PP describe - it just made me feel shitty and anxious.

I do still use Insta and Twitter but my cast iron rule is that I don't follow anyone I know in real life - only famous people that I admire for whatever reason. So lots of Strictly dancers/comedians/actors/sportspeople etc. I find it easy to follow those people and just enjoy the content they post because I don't relate to them or compare myself to them - they're just kind of fantasy figures. Whereas I would inevitably compare myself to friends/family with 'perfect' SM pages and find myself wanting.

I technically have social media- I didn't delete my FB profile because I like to buy stuff second-hand on marketplace and I don't think you can do that without a profile. I haven't posted anything on it since I was about 23 though and I'm 35 now. I scroll through for a few minutes once or twice a year and remember why I don't use it 😆

I've never had Insta or TikTok or anything like that.

I just find it extremely stressful- I definitely think my mental health would be worse if I used it. Not necessarily because of the comparing myself to others but because of the 'bitesize' nature of it.

My DH loves a bit of TikTok and will find accounts posting funny videos etc and want to show me. I can't bear the format with the short videos playing one after another- I just feel like I'm being bombarded with stuff chopping and changing and nothing lasts long enough to concentrate on before my brain has to adjust to the next thing. It probably sounds ridiculous but I find even a couple of minutes of it makes me all anxious and irritable. There are some funny things on there but I've had to ask him just to keep it to a few videos or it makes me feel quite grumpy!

I don't like video content in general really, so a lot of SM doesn't suit me. I want information all in written format so I can consume it at my own pace, look up related stuff, go back and reread bits easily etc.

Love a bit of Mumsnet though 😁

I only ever had Facebook and deleted it just over 3 years ago now, I am happier without it but I couldn't stand that people feel they need validation from how many 'likes' their holiday pictures get, or their new living room decor etc. Just enjoy the holiday and chill in the bloody living room without trying to get the perfect angle for a photo ☺️