AIBU to believe frequent SM posters are massively unhappy?

[Ncbo]

I don't use social media much, more of just a watcher than poster.

It's become painfully obvious to me that the "perfect happy couples" are in actual fact miserable and playing out their life on an app that actually nobody gives a crap about.

Same with the parents who overshare their kids and show every detail of their day.

Just got me thinking as the neighbours argue every other day, on their kiss and make up days it prompts a post on SM declaring their undying love for each other 🙃

Depends on the person but yes it can be ..I have a few friends who suffer from mental health. I know they bad when suddenly they post photos and very positive things on Facebook. I then quietly what's app them and listen invite them around, visit etc. One friend says Facebook is something she can control when things are bad.

If someone is posting lots then I think you're probably right.

If someone posts something nice once a week then I wouldn't read too much into it. Some people like to share their nice things.

I know someone who posts on social media all the time, every insignificant detail gets put on there. Its like she wants validation or people to feel jealous of her perfect wonderful life.

She's bloody miserable, an alcoholic who refuses to get help and on her last chance with her husband.

I don't post much at all, think my last post was about a sport I like. I use Instagram for photos of places I've been to (kind of like a digital photo album of the best photos).

I agree. Stupid theory. Some people have FOMO. Some are full of themselves and assume everyone is interested in their meals, days out, holidays. Others simply enjoy it.

I know one of these! It's baffling!

I agree though I don't know why. The more people post about being madly in love or having an idyllically happy family, the more I assume their lives are in chaos.

I have a good, lovely, old friend who posts every single thing she does - every cafe she goes to, the safety curtain in front of her at every show she sees. She does masses with her life. I can hardly keep up with the posts - one second she is in Spain with friends, the next second she is at the opera in Covent Garden, the next she's having lunch in Edinburgh and then climbing Ben Nevis. I can't fathom the pace. But she does seem genuinely happy, has a long marriage, nice kids, an interesting job. She's the only one I don't suspect of having behind the scenes traumas.

If everyone was a watcher and not a poster there would be nothing to watch!
You do what you want let them do what they want

I agree with this. I think people are really quick to jump to the conclusion you have here OP. In reality people post on social media for a lot of reasons. Some might be negative things like because they're unhappy or seeking validation, but others will be more positive, such as this being the modern equivalent of a photo album, or - and I think this reason gets overlooked a lot - because it's been a big part of modern culture for quite some time now and for many it's just the done thing, it's all they know.

I frequently post on social media & am completely happy! However, my family live all around the country, as do my friends, so that is the best way to keep up with what everyone is doing/share photos with grandparents etc. I guess I use FB as more of a memory repository - somewhere to store photos & to look back at what I was doing 'this time 1, 2, 3, 4 etc' years ago.

Yea , that’s a good point . You don’t like , unfollow .

I agree.

When people post things like “Looking tired today” followed by a selfie, CLEARLY fishing for compliments I’m so tempted to post “yep you look like shit actually”

Yes that happens but I also know a few not on social media or don't post often at all with incredibly sad , unhappy lives. And some that are happy, content and post regularly so really can't say what you wrote is entirely true.