If you post on social media a fair bit, what do you think of people that don’t?

[Lipsaresobloodydry]

Back in the day, I posted on Fb and uploaded photos to Instagram fairly regularly, as most people did. It was nice back then and felt like a community of your friends, to me it doesn’t feel like that now and I last posted on Ig last summer and that was maybe three times that year. I occasionally do stories, but that is rare now, I just feel really odd about posting and am not sure why. I’m a bit sad about it in the sense that I kept as a sort of picture diary to look back on and don’t have that or any memories of this time to come up in the future, which I quite like.
Ive noticed a fair few friends stopped ages ago too, but do know some who post regularly.
If you do, do you assume those that don’t, don’t really have a life?
I’m actually quite liking the idea of becoming mysterious in a way now and giving nothing away.
Does anyone else not really want to post and feels weird if they do?

You've grown out of it. Same happened to me. I've not posted for years now.
Social media is not the same anymore anyway. Imo.

‘Grown out of it’? Bit condescending Dont you think?
It’s not a maturity issue.

Sorry but is " on you" a social media term? I don't think I 've even seen that used on MN.

I'm glad you enjoy Social media. I'm glad your mental health is fine.
I'm glad your friends have " fun".
As a matter if inerest are they really having have fun or is it just a facade to present on social media?
If they are really having " fun," why are they not just enjoying the moment rather than having to post a photo to prove they are having fun.?
If you are happy living you life in this way fair enough. Allow me to find it weird to live your life in a way that needs public validation.

I don't mean it like that. I meant just got tired of it, had enough. Moved on etc.
We don't always stay liking the same things forever.

MN is SM.
I used to post a lot on MN, but don't now.
People who post a lot here have a lot to say, I guess.
Dunno what other opinion makes sense.

I stopped posting years ago, I hated that I felt like I had to post to show others what we’re getting up to, places we are visiting etc all of a sudden I didn’t like the idea of sharing my life online, didn’t like sharing pics of my children online. I think I also felt like if I didn’t post then my circle would think I did nothing, so I decided being private is best so I don’t need to feel like posting and reading ppls comments or feeling like why didn’t so and so comment, like my post.
bizarrely when I did use to post, my dh and I would always get in to random petty arguments, I noticed our lives are so much more calmer content happier without the posting, I believe in evil eye so feel that has had a play.

I know exactly what you mean op!
Times have moved on and I’m the same.

In one way I feel it’s a shame that Facebook is full of marketing posts as I like to see what my friends are up to, but they, and I, only post very rarely nowadays and usually about a special interest that we all share.

Tbh I have a relative on Facebook who still posts endlessly about their young adult dc and also posts political rants and I tend to roll my eyes a bit inwardly because it all seems bordering on show offy… I mean their offspring are genuinely lovely and genuinely talented… and I really am in awe … and I know it comes from a place of genuine love and pride on their part … but if you are on the receiving end, once you find yourself posting “well done” and “amazing” and “fabulous” about three times a month, it sort of feels a bit as though you are obligated ifyswim or, wasn’t the first twenty times we said it enough? Although I feel mean writing that tbh!

Also, I tend to think, don’t you have enough friends to talk to directly?

Edited to say: as I post on here pretty regularly, obviously I realise I am being a complete hypocrite 😂 , but at least it’s fairly anonymous!

I stopped using Facebook and Instagram years ago. They have their uses but generally they’re become more and more toxic, superficial and unpleasant since I first started using them 10-15 years ago. I don’t miss them, I don’t need people to see my life, and I don’t want my dc featured or growing up thinking likes are the be all and end all. Each to their own but it’s not for me anymore. And I feel happier for it.

I think a lot of people are just fed up with social media now and can't be bothered to post. Feeds are just full of adverts and AI bullshit anyway. I'd got to the point where I posted about twice a year. I ditched FB and Instagram a couple of months ago and don't miss them at all.

One doth protest too much....

It was in response to your assertion that social media is a negative influence. I said it’s a negative influence on you. Not on everyone.
The rest of your post is really unpleasant. Yes. I’m having fun. Yes, I’m enjoying it in the moment. People have always taken photos. It doesn’t take you out of the moment. Posting them is a matter of moments and I usually do it in the evening, in bed or just before, when I’m processing the stuff I’ve been enjoying. I’m not posting pictures to prove anything in take them to remember the fun. I post them because I want to remember and it’s a convenient storage which reminds me each year and because my friends like to see me having fun - as I like to see them.
I find it weird you think it’s about public validation. What an odd way to see it. It’s sharing with friends, as people have always done.

That’s very different from ‘grown out’ of it.

I din’t feel I have to post. Neither does anyone I know. If we want to, we do. If not, we don’t.
Evil eye? You what now?

I dont think much either way! But posting on Facebook has kept international friendships going over 20 years for me and have had my friends visit from all over the world and definitely wouldn’t have without social media! I especially like it for maintaining a connection with them. I post around once a month.

Why are you taking this so personally 😅people are just commenting in general, not specifically to/about you and you’re replying defensively

@Roadtripwithpretzels this stood out from your post
Also, I tend to think, don’t you have enough friends to talk to directly?
I do. Many of them are the people I’m sharing with online. And we’ll talk about the post when I see them. I don’t understand why a SM post suggests not having friends to share with. It literally is sharing with friends. Unless you have an open account, I guess

I post a fair bit on fb as i use it as free photo storage. I also like that you can assign someone to take it
over if you pass away and i like the idea of my family having access to the photos
ive taken over the years. I dont really think about who posts and who doesnt. Everyone has their own preferences.

Adverts are a problem, I agree, though there are ways to minimise that. My friends don’t use AI much, so I don’t see a lot of that. But if it didn’t suit you getting rid of it was the right decision. I just feel people who have got rid of it/stopped posting like to judge people who haven’t.

I’m not taking it personally. I’m commenting my personal view. Isn’t that what a discussion thread is for? Maybe MN is the one I should give up…

ODFOD

I stopped my (small amount of) posting on social media just before the pandemic when I had PND/a breakdown of sorts. I resented that people who never spoke to me could follow my life and feel as though they "knew" me when it couldn't have been further from the truth. I felt that if someone couldn't be bothered to actually communicate with me (via message, phone or in person) they didn't have a right to know what I was up to. I've kept myself to myself ever since.

Edit to add: I'm also deeply cynical about people who appear to have a "perfect" or "insta" life"... people I've known in real life who have/had accounts like that have been different/unhappy behind the social media veneer (maybe it's an escape? But either way, it feels unhealthy). Not saying that everyone is like that, but enough that I take social media with a pinch of salt.

Sorry I didnt mean to be unpleasant.
It's probably down to me feeling threatened by social media.
I accept your view is just as valid as mine. Just different.

I don’t use Facebook or Instagram anymore. I was wasting too much time on it. There was a point I was doing things just to get some good pics and to show others what I was up to and I realised I was just showing off. I’m so much happier off social media, I definitely compared myself to others and felt envy more than I’d like, not being on it I just focus on myself and my family and friends and I’m happier for it. No judgement for those who use it for whatever reason that is just my own experience.

I don’t post often at all - maybe a snap at Xmas and pop it on IG story but otherwise I don’t. I also hesitate and decide not to post OP so I understand!

im happy to not share my life on social media. Friends and family know what I’m up to as we message on WhatsApp a lot and I’ll send a few pics that way, with a selection of people rather than posting to social media.

I don’t care what others who post a lot do. BUT I hate that when I’m on holiday or out for a night out with certain social media addicted (their admission!) friends they spend ages getting pics of us all and essentially making a fake posed picture of what an amazing time we’re having… I mean, we would be, but you e spent 20 mins setting up this bloody IG photo. It’s so boring.

Got rid of Facebook around four years ago, and I don't miss it at all. A few friends have tried to talk me into using it again, but I just have no interest. The bulk of the people I had on Facebook were people from school/uni that I'd not seen or spoken to in donkey's years, and I just felt like what's the point in posting? And I don't really have any interest in seeing that so and so got married, someone else had a kid, someone went on holiday etc...it's all just so boring and tedious.

I still have Instagram, but I use that mostly for looking at beautiful wildlife and nature photography. I occasionally post some photos on there, but haven't posted since October. I