AIBU when slagging off social media sites to family and other people I meet?

[DistinguishedSocialCommenator]

Thankfully no one in my immediate family uses Facebook, the new tiktoks and those others where I can't even recall the names of them

Most of us do use WhatsApp as it is free to chat and most of us older ones in the family only use PAYG mobile options and often pay in advance for calls on the landline which are often more clear and reliable, (Even with this I don't nor does my OH or children constantly update their status, we actually hide it I think you call it when others cant tell if we are using the WattsApp)

I could be getting an unbalanced view of Facebooks etc as we don't use them but all I hear and read in the media is the trouble it causes, fallouts etc over little things, EG, you did not thank me, you copied me, you ignored me, etc, etc,etd

AIBU trying to tell people I know and now grandchildren growing up I fear social media bullying etc, so AIBU telling them to steer clear of what IMO is total rubbish and you are better off out of them?

Ah, makes total and utter sense.

Do as I say type.

Meh. I've been on FB since 2007 and have never fallen out with anyone on it.

I've been on Mumsnet, Twitter, Guardian comments, Patreon, FreeJinger, slacktivist, Shapely Prose, Wordpress, livejournal and usenet too (and I've seen stuff from homeschoolblogger, dreamwidth, Tiktok, Instagram and Pinterest). Apart from a couple of sharp words (which ended in mutual apology) I've never fallen out with anyone. Though someone did take offence at the phrasing in one of my Mumsnet posts, so there you go.

Interesting that OP was bullied through her home landline phone. Surely that should reinforce the idea that it's not the platform, it's the people?

Clearly you don’t have the first clue about what social media is either @DistinguishedSocialCommenator Since WhatsApp is one of the biggest social media platforms there is. You’re making yourself look silly now, as well as supercilious.

Every single person on my FB feed is nicer than MN where there's at least mild viciousness underlying most replies (owing to the anonymity, which has its upsides too).

If you're a normal person with a normal social circle, your FB feed will be nice and normal. If you and the people you know fancy life to be a soap opera, and behave like little kids, then they'll behave online like they do in real life.

Really, only old people use FB nowadays tho.

Well you are fighting a losing battle op

Amusing....oh, and you can be ANONYMOUS on tiktok same as on here

I've never had a spat on fb. I find it useful.

No me either

Maybe just your family and friends who have,er, issues op?

Love a pious post in the evening me

be careful OP or people will start to swerve you at parties.

I'm a bit confused by your username tbh given your post

Why do you assume you know better than other adults what’s good for them?

You seem to have no idea at all how social media works and are extremely ill-informed, so it’s beyond absurd that you think you’re in any position to lecture people about it.

Many thanks but I will continue in my quest as I've read too many stories about children getting bullied.

”Continue in my quest” 😆😆 Are you for real?

I hate to break it to you, but your friends and family do not give one tiny toss about your opinions of social media. No one does.

Stop pluralising, it’s Facebook and TikTok

I do love a good quest! We should have swords, and horses, and magical amulets.

YABU. OP, social media is a means of interactions among people in which they create, share, and/or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks

Clearly, you are currently using social media on this MN website. It's OK if you dislike it. Everyone has a choice. Do not expect other generations to feel as you do...the modern world revolves around social media. Businesses, stock markets, politics etc., include social media. The modern world won't run without it. The good news.....you don't have to use social media if you don't want. Your tiny decision won't stop the world from turning.

Was it not you that was going to complain on your blog about Coronation Street being bumped for the rugby?

(It was you).

MN allows people to post anonymously and share their views/feelings without, on the whole, people knowing who you are. Thank you

Well, in under a minute I have found out you got married at nineteen and you have been married for over forty years. You worked for the NHS and ❤️ Coronation Street.

"Blog"

Good grief 😬

Thank you for sharing your positive experiences and I doubt the majority are like that. However, I am safely assuming that you have read and heard about the pitfalls of these platforms and the massive concerns amongst many people who have experienced, read/heard about the problems, the rifts etc it can cause many people.

As per my OP it's not for me, my family and many people we know but I'm aware many use the platforms and these could be improved to safeguard the vulnerable and educate those about the potential pitfalls and what to look out for.

We are all vulnerable to the net in various ways even those that may wrongly assume they are not. Indeed the use of the net/SM sites and other contents, the advantages outweigh the negatives but IMO, certain platforms do cause a lot of upset amongst friends/family and fallings out.

Hello.
"Issues" Yes we do, EG as per OP, we do not and never have sued sites like those mentioned in my OP for reasons as per OP.

I think if you want to set yourself up as a social media safety advisor, you probably need a much better working knowledge of the topic, as well as a more engaging authorial tone.

Also, how have your friends and family managed to have "issues" with social media if they don't use it?

You've got smartphones these days and most parents dont have a clue how to control them or know whats going on

Why do you think this? I'm 45 and have a mobile since my early 20s, I've been on various SM platforms for almost the last 30 years (Bebo, Livejournal, Myspace etc.) I've been on Twitter and FB since 2009.

Thousands of news stories out there over the years

Some recent ones and one from the horse's mouth.
I can't respond to everyone here and you need to take into consideration other comments I've made here and just becuse you have been fine - are you saying there are no cases of many not getting on fine?

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Through evil social media sites I've reunited with old school friends, found incredible artists and ways to buy their work and found a large proportion of my freelance work over the last decade and a half.
Yes there are pitfalls, especially with twitter, but as with so many things social media is what you make it.

Yet you have kept your landline phone despite that being the method of your harassment?

If you research then TV is harmful to kids, do you have a TV?

OP, you clearly aren't taking note of posters lived experience of using apps like FB and picking online articles to support your view that this is the 'norm' and not the 'exception' that most of us consider it to be

But considering your preach a lot about bullying online, I'm surprised you haven't held yourself to account and apologised to @pinksheetss and the other poster you patronised and mocked for pointing out you were on Mumsnet (a social media platform) and asserted it was not social media

The link you provided actually supports their point, not yours. Mumsnet, WhatsApp are all social media. And you can indeed be anonymous on almost all social media apps