Social media Christmases

[Hihosilver123]

I fully appreciate that it’s all done for effect on social media, but so many of the videos of family Christmases are just so OTT in my opinion. Children being given so many presents, and so much money being spent on them. Also, the pressure to include all the Christmas hype such as wrapping paper across the door, Christmas Eve boxes, matching pjs, piles and piles of presents and Mother’s crying to the camera because of all the pressure to ‘get it right’. I just find it all so obscene. Do people actually behave like this or is it all for show? We just have a few presents, go for a walk, enjoy family time and have a nice meal together!

Makes me feel a bit sick to be honest, its like over consumption final boss.

I know some friends genuinely do all of it but because they feel like that's what you have to do, rather than because that's what they really want to do. Nobody wants to be the one seen to be doing less.

All the overconsumerism is getting on my nerves. The same people complaining about the cost of living are the same people spending excessive amounts on absolute shite just because it's xmas.

We do all of the things you said plus probably more - minus me crying into a camera. Also, none of it goes on social media because I don’t need to brag about it and have a few people in my circle who aren’t in a position to do similar. We also went to Lapland this year once the dc broke up from school. Lots of families do similar. If you don’t then that’s okay too but no need for you to call it obscene. I love Christmas and want to make the few years that they’re young as magical as possible. I’m also lucky to be in the financial position to do so.

I think families should do whatever makes them happy. They should not however plaster it all over social media. No one with half a brain needs to watch that crap! It’s pathetic and using your children for likes etc is appalling behaviour.

Of course - it’s each to their own and we should all do what we feel comfortable with.

I do question the number of presents and the amount spent. I think there’s a danger that this becomes the expectation and can lead to entitlement and a lack of genuine appreciation and understanding. Less is more in my opinion.

It’s just performative and one-upmanship, I long for the good old days of modesty

We maintain the modest approach, mostly!

Indeed - an awful lot of aren’t we doing well going on . I have no issue with people doing this stuff but why feel the need to show everyone and his mother if it’s not just showing off- just send a WhatsApp to your mum /gran etc -

I'd get the ick if DH wore Christmas pyjamas. Especially if they matched DD's. Actually, DD has never worn Xmas pyjamas.

Yes, very ick inducing!

I watched the Ingham family vlog and it made me feel awful just so much mess, waste and tat.

We just have a few presents, go for a walk, enjoy family time and have a nice meal together!

Same here. My Christmas wasn’t instagram worthy at all.

I don't know a single person in RL who behaves like that. Vacuous and sad.

It seems fairly obvious to point out social media isn’t some homogenous world. What are you referring to?

tiktoks of council houses covered in wrapped presents- rage bait which is fairly well laid

Facebook friends you knew from school- you know them better than us

instagram influencer in a luxury hotel gifting Jo malone- gifted / advertising/ collaboration

We just don’t have £100+ to waste on Xmas jammies! Our jammies need to last all year.

Absolutely agree. A woman I know from a Facebook group I've belonged to for about 10 years has a 6 year old son. She posts photos every year on his birthday and Christmas if the astonishing mountains of presents he gets (you also get to see some of them - lots of high value items).

The same woman also posts regularly about how they can't save a deposit to buy a property...

It is obscene. I find myself getting angry at the mountain of presents all plastered over social media, even in modest homes, where there is quite literally no place to walk because the whole floor space is covered with presents . It's not a case of well if you can afford it....the level of consumerism has reached ridiculous levels, we can afford it, I still feel like I have to teach my kids that is not normal to have a mountain of stuff just because it's Christmas....

My only Christmas extravagance is my beautiful door wreath. I order from the same florist each year and love it. I justify it by not going over the top with food and not buying Christmas crackers which have to be the greatest waste of money.

The latest trend I saw was “watch my wrap presents for every child in my kids class” oh my god make it stop

Christmas Eve boxes, elf on the shelf (I don’t need daily updates, I’m not 7) matching pj’s, can all get in the bin. Do whatever you enjoy with your family but I find it gross to post it all when there’s people getting by on food banks at the moment

It's vulgar and tacky.

If parents do something because it’s a SM trend/thing, that is rather sad. Children need to not to be victims of SM

Very much agree it’s ridiculous op and children themselves instinctively know that too. They can’t fully appreciate their toys or enjoy activities if hampered by stuff.

Also it’s ridiculous bc every single item in your home has to have a place, be maintained, cleaned and organised. Usually by women. And the general cycle of life is that we buy so much stuff to build a home nowadays, raise children, and then when they leave, we spend a lot of time decluttering and down-sizing and it all takes enormous amounts of our time, money and attention that could be more productively directed elsewhere.

I’m not against a comfortable, functional aesthetically pleasing home but consumerism has got out of hand. There’s a balance to be struck that I hope future generations will get right.

I saw one influencer with a mountain of presents. How much does this cost and how can a DC want that many things?

I feel like we spent a considerable amount of money on DC this year and the piles were still small. They got thoughtful, useful gifts and clothes. They seem very happy and I feel like if we bought more, it would just be wasteful.

Question to anyone that had a mountain of presents - how much did it cost and what type of presents were they?

I don’t understand why people are watching this stuff & then complaining about on another social media site?

Stop watching people doing stupid shit!