Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Secret Facebook page

12 replies

Natalie22109 · 06/12/2023 16:21

Hello all,

I need some external perspective of possible please as I am at war with myself over this one.
DH and I have been together for 10 years, have 2 children (10 and 5). When we met, we both made the executive decision to come off social media - a non issue for both of us. I've been plodding along merrily for the last 10 years, social media free, and whilst there are times I miss it (seeing what's on locally for the kids etc), I've been quite happy without it.
Now, youngest daughter was sticking stickers on my husbands phone the other night and I saw, whilst she was doing so, 1 of the top used apps on his phone was the Facebook app.
Quite surprised and, honestly, confused, I got in touch with a friend who has Facebook as asked her to take a look and see if she could find him on there. Low and behold, he is and has been since Aug 2020.
Now, for reference, husband I separated for 2 years when youngest was born - stress and strain and me being quite unwell following her birth and him being quite frankly useless. The separation falls in this time frame. We would both admit, it's been difficult coming back together after the separation and it's never felt quite right. Sex is non existent unless I initiate - something I stopped doing almost a year ago as a "trial" however there has been nothing from him since. There is also very little affection, on both parts, and it does feel like a marriage of convenience more than anything else unfortunately.
The Facebook account itself is under a difficult to decipher name and does look as though to is largely full of work colleagues - he works as a account manager for a sales company and many of the contacts are work contacts. There are however a number of "choice" follows on his behalf - mainly of pages with videos of women taking their clothes off.
I am not against porn. We haven't had sex in such a long time, I almost expect it be part of our marriage now. I am however of the opinion it's something that a marrieds couple should enjoy, privately.
However, I was instantly filled with rage upon finding out about all of this - feeling confused why he's kept this account a secret, disrespected but also slightly disgusted at the fact he has these choice follows on what appears on the surface to be a work Facebook.
I came down from the initial anger and reasoned with myself that it was a work Facebook, he's likely not mentioned it in fear of rocking the boat and the choice follows are just "lads being lads". But then, I battle with myself in that my initial feelings are justified, he's disrespected me and is also giving the attention that he doesn't give to me, to others.
I haven't raised any of this with him yet, as I'm not sure which side of the fence I am sitting or what I actually hope to gain from raising it.
What are everyone's thoughts on this please?
Thanks in advance xx

OP posts:
Stephy1024 · 06/12/2023 18:40

I think my only advice would be to speak to your husband about all of this. He's likely feeling the same way about no sex/affection in the relationship. Be honest and open about everything that's bothering you and then see how you both feel from there.
I'm not sure I would feel disrespected by the fact that he probably got fb when you two wasn't together. But you feel how you feel and that's ok.
I hope you can both figure this out.

WhereIsBebèsChambre · 06/12/2023 18:49

When we met, we both made the executive decision to come off social media - a non issue for both of us. who initiated the discussion and why? Did you both really want to come off it? I know some people think it's the devils work, but I like it to keep in touch. Do you count forums like mn as social media?

KrisAkabusi · 06/12/2023 18:59

Quite surprised and, honestly, confused, I got in touch with a friend who has Facebook as asked her to take a look and see if she could find him on there. Low and behold, he is and has been since Aug 2020.

You should be talking to your husband about this, not anyone else.

And quite honestly, from reading your entire post, Facebook is the least of your problems. You're in a marriage in name only.

Gingerkittykat · 06/12/2023 19:30

Your husband needs to update his FB security so randoms can't go in to snoop on who he is following.

I'm not sure what a choice follow is, do you mean a page or group or something else?

Maybe he didn't tell you he had a FB because he knew you would be unhappy with the decision, especially is you are jealous that he is giving attention to other people on FB which means he is not giving you attention at that time.

You are massively overreacting.

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 06/12/2023 19:34

Is it you who doesn't like his/you being on Facebook really?

Got2getout · 06/12/2023 19:38

Facebook isn’t the problem here, your marriage is.

He’s an adult, he can have Facebook if he wants. You’ve clearly got huge issues within the relationship. Talk, think, decide what you want, but his Facebook account isn’t relevant at all.

SusanKennedyshouldLTB · 06/12/2023 19:40

Why did you make the decision nit have social media?
what do you think mumsnet is if not social media?
is the oldest not his?

Meadowflower2023 · 06/12/2023 19:41

If you miss being on fb for things like seeing what is on locally for the kids etc just set yourself back up on it. What's good for the goose and all that. Send him a friend request so he knows you know he's on and just leave it at that. He'll likely just say he went back on during the split anyway so no point arguing about that. Unless he's using it to DM someone inappropriate which you haven't implied, it all seems fairly harmless.

Natalie22109 · 06/12/2023 20:39

Thanks for your replies everyone.
Sorry original post was typed mid teatime chaos as head was whirling whilst I made bolognese lol!
If I remember right, I was coming off Facebook anyway when we met, as it was recommended as part of my job, and he suggested he come off too as he had had issues with it in last relationship. Someone asked re oldest not being his - oldest is his from the previous relationship, my stepdaughter.
I have absolutely no problem with him being on Facebook, it's just the fact I've thought all this time that he wasn't, and he's never said that he is, so it feels a little deceptive. Just to confirm I'm also not the jealous type at all - I'd be buggered if I was as he mostly works away all week, only back at weekends, and I'm pretty sure that would wreak havoc in a relationship with jealousy.
I'm not jealous he is following nudey pages, if anything I feel icked out by it and more p*ed off at the fact he's not being intimate with me yet clearly still has a drive - that's what I meant re giving others the attention he's supposed to be giving his wife.
I think you're all right here though on that the Facebook account isn't the actual issue here, it's the deeper issues in the marriage.
Thanks everyone xx

OP posts:
Elvanseshortage · 06/12/2023 20:45

Your post is odd OP. You do have a big problem that needs attention right now. It’s your relationship. You need to urgently start thinking hard about what you want from your marriage and you then you need to work together with your DH to improve it. Whether or not he is on Facebook is really trivial in comparison to the state of your marriage. Surely you can see that?

gamerchick · 06/12/2023 20:53

I don't think it's the facebook. It would be hypocritical anyway since you're complaining about his SM.... On SM.

You need to have a chat with your husband about the future of your relationship. You don't need to mention the Facebook at all.

verrymerryberry · 07/12/2023 21:31

It all sounds quite fragile OP. Sound complicated too.

Ten years together. Plodding on. 10 year old who you refer to as yours but is your step daughter. So did he separate from the mother as she was born? Then had a baby five years ago but separated for two years.

This doesn't sound like plodding on it sounds like complicated fragile relationship.

I think the social media account is a red herring but the secret is the problem here. Why did he need to conceal it from you?

I think I'd reflect and decide if I'd be better off alone. I'd be pissed of about the secret and deception about something that is pretty normal to have and be open about.

I'd bring it up but not it 'confront' him.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page