Happy birthday/mothersday etc, social media messages pointless

[Hairspray123]

OK so I am prepard to be shot down here as majority of people probably do this, but why do some people post loving adoring thankyou, happy birthday, I love you messages or other such things with selfies of them together having lots of fun when the recipient isnt even on Facebook and wont see it? I just dont get what the point is.

I absolutely get it if they are or will see and appreciate it, but when they aren't, whats the point? Is it attention seeking? Are they looking for 'likes' for self gratification?

Why wish your 6 year old an amazing first day back at school on social media? Is it to remind people they are back at school? I just dont get it. Do they then show them that they did it.

Im not talking a post expressing how proud they are telling friends something or like 'My Jimmy won first prize today and Im so proud I want to shout it from the roof tops blah blah' its when they are wishing them something specifically.

One of the many reasons I got rid of Facebook completely years ago!

Also the bunch of flowers pic with 'I just got these, thank you so much to gorgeous dh!' Stuff like that did my head in. Whenever I get flowers from dh I just thank him in person at home, no one else needs to know!

All social media is for attention.

Quite often people do this so the memories pop up in the following years. It's harmless and literally the type of thing facebook and whatnot is for.

YANBU, honestly baffles me!!!

Attention.

I can’t stand it either. I will get shot for this but find it even worse when it’s the “happy heavenly” posts. Just why?

Probably to remind people they are struggling in the hope that they reach out without actually having to say "it's X birthday today and I'm feeling really sad about it" 🤷🏻‍♀️

But to me that would make much more sense & I never thought about it that way. I will now though.

I agree with you.

’Thank you hunny for a lovely day out/meal/etc..’

Surely you would have thanked them at the event!

I don’t mind seeing holiday pictures, interesting days out, new babies etc , ie the modern day equivalent of looking at holiday photographs,

My mum made a hint today that i could have put a photo of us on fb to wish Happy Mothers Day even though we spent the day together...I messaged first thing, bought present and card...
I'm sure she's agreed with OP before but think its because so many do it.

I know what you mean OP. Really annoying attention seeking stuff.

Haha yes!

Just attention seeking, will say I think SM has vaguely spoiled these types of days, everything is for 'the gram' or for the FB, I feel like there's constant snapping of pics (obviously this is selfish) but so many unflattering pics of me end up on fb/SM we'll have barely started chatting before it's 'lets get a pic etc'

Yes I hate this too, they always pic the best one of them when I look awful!

Yes it has become the norm.

I'm with you OP. Can't stand attention seekers. No one likes a show off!

Yes holiday pictures are nice especially close friends and family you dont see often

YANBU - I find it weird whether they're on FB or not - just tell them directly!

I particularly dislike it when the person has no way of giving consent to their picture being put on social media, such as a child or an elderly person with dementia. I know someone who regularly posts photos and even videos of their DM who has advanced alzheimers, she looks confused and far from her best. The photos are accompanied by gushing declarations of love which prompts lots of "what a lovely child you are" comments. Pure attention seeking. I've already made clear to my kids that, if I end up like that in my old age, they are not to put me on social media (not that they would anyway!)

@Geminijust yes you are right, I never even thought of it from that angle too that the DM wouldnt have a clue.

And virtue signalling ‘look how well I treat my mother’ ‘look how much my kids love me I must be great’ it’s all to compare to others and to look better. It’s a competition. Who is the most generous and all that which is ironic to me. I can’t stand that kind of thing, I know they want us to be jealous of them so badly but we have our own lives 🙄that’s my take on social media festivities anyway

I'm with you OP. All the gushing public posts, and especially the "happy heavenly mother's day" posts today reminded me why I rarely use FB and almost never post on there.

My DM is addicted to social media, as are all her friends, and as a result she now expects a bigger and bigger fuss for mother's day (I distinctly remember her not giving a shit when I was little!)

@Annymania I dont understand how people can be so blind to what they are doing, do they actually think that Joan who they have spoke to twice and works in the local corner shop and responds genuinely cares, has she actually replied for her own self gratification?

I agree!!

Can I ask why any of you are on social media if you don't like what your friends and family post?

I don't get it.

I like seeing my friends happy or sad or however they are expressing themselves.

If someone is posting something that bothers me I'll just hide those posts.

Otherwise I'm happy to celebrate with them or grieve with them.

You are all right when you post on social media it is because you are sharing something you want attention on but I don't see that as a bad thing?

Wanting to share something you are proud of or excited about is awesome to me.

I don't care if it's my friend completing her master's or a friend getting her hair done.

One of my best friends shared her struggles with cancer and dying during her short cancer battle.

I don't really see anything they post as infringing on my life. I'm happy I get to see them all.

@bringmorewashing i was thinking about this earlier, I dont remember my DM ever doing anything for her DM! My DM maybe had a box of chocolates from the corner shop. Half of which we probably ate! We do still keep it minimal in this house but there is definitely a pressure from the outside world to make you feel you should do more!