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?

Sorry missed this before switching from one device to another (the irony!) - yes they do, but as I say, those who are terminally online (i.e. post about almost every thought that runs through their head) almost feel that either it's performative about their life or they are only half in the real world (their life) and half online. A bit like people who go to a concert and just film the whole thing on their phone - have a drink, have a dance, BE there! Does that make sense?

Also edited to add that social media addiction is an actual thing too. As with anything else in life, there are people whose use of social media can be considered problematic and compulsive. But hey I am a Welsh rugby fan - and that fandom has certainly felt problematic and yet compulsive over the past two years (am I bitter/sad about yesterday, just a little bit! 😆)

I like it because a friend will post photos of somewhere nice that they’ve been, where I haven’t been and quite often I will visit that place.
Same as when I’ve posted where I’ve been, a friend might visit a restaurant or a holiday destination having seen my post. It’s not that complicated.

God no I think people who don't post on social media are probably out enjoying themselves and having a bloody life.

I thoroughly envy them and wish I could drag myself away from doomscrolling.

Honestly you are not missing out on anything. Carry on enjoying your life without social media, you don't need it.

I post loads on social media and don't think anything about those who don't. I use FB, Insta etc as like an online photo album and for the memories on FB as I love it when a memory pops up.

SM is properly wasted on me.
Never had a Facebook account.
I have a IG account but never post and only use it to follow sports, author's and telly people I like.
Same with X, although very rarely log in these days.

I don't post at all anymore. I don't feel comfortable putting my kids online and why would anyone care about what I'm doing day to day? I judge people who are always online.

I haven’t had a facebook or insta account for years. It’s boring and just an ad platform, I forget they exist tbh & I’ve never been on TicTok.

I use whatsapp all the time though and keep in touch with friends via that and seeing them in real life.

When I think about the times I posted a lot on social media they are times when I was bored, lonely and craved adult interaction as was at home with young children. The thought of posting anything now makes me feel weird too and makes me cringe about how active I was. Deleted all my accounts completely and haven’t looked back.

I just wish people would make more effort to stay in touch. Facebook is an easy way. As is WhatsApp or Messenger. I post every so often as it prompts people to interact and say hello, and we might start a dialogue, on or off Facebook. I also appreciate people posting so I feel connected to them, and know a bit about their life, even if I haven't seen them for a while. Sometimes I think people who don't post are a bit precious, or self involved. I totally understand keeping kids off social media. I don't put mine on. But I do put on scenes or landscapes or whatever. I am posting a lot less these days, partly as I think people are judgemental and think you are showing off, partly to reduce my digital footprint. I do like looking at the memories, though, and there will be fewer of those.

I admire people who don’t use social media. It’s become so performative. I am always suspicious of anyone who posts loads about how much fun they’re having/how much they love their other half etc…. When you’re out and about and see people posing for photos it’s often so posed and fake. Also my very prolific SM family member poster is actually pretty miserable and hard going in real life with a marriage on the rocks.

A bit of an alternative viewpoint here..

I used to be a “micro influencer” on Instagram (yes that term makes me cringe now!) For all intents and purposes, it was good fun, I had a nice community of friends, followers and followers who became friends. This was before social media became the beast it is now.

I enjoyed interacting with people and I’d say I felt quite connected with people by doing so, but it quickly became quite obsessive. Going out for dinner and wanting to get the best photo of my meal, or coming up with ways to make something fairly mundane seem interesting.

One day, I just stopped using it and haven’t ever gone back. I don’t think badly of people who post online, but I don’t miss the pressure of it in my life.

However, it has made me realise how lazy (for want of a better word) some friendships are. Lots of my friends would rely upon my updates to know what I was upto… whereas actually dropping a message to someone takes more effort, so my circle feels a lot smaller, but I don’t mind too much!

Sometimes I think people who don't post are a bit precious, or self involved.

Really? How do you get to that conclusion?

because they don't share. I don't see the point in being on social media if you don't share anything. I often get likes on my posts from people I haven't seen in years. I like the people, but I have no idea what they are up to. They know a little about me. I'd prefer it if they interacted properly, rather than just likes.

So you dislike people who are on FB but don’t post? If they don’t use it you wouldn’t care.

Some people probably think a like is enough.

I think people who don't post on social media value their privacy and don't need validation or attention.

I find it a bit weird seeing people constantly online and never post or like any posts. Snoopers I call them.

I've never posted on IG as it all seems a bit of a vanity. Never posted anything personal on FB for the same reason. I keep FB for groups. Useful for local knowledge, tradesmen and travel destinations.
I used X a lot but don't post.

I find it a bit cringe when friends post pictures of themselves and their lives, especially my age group (60s).
The exception to this is a couple of friends who have done major travel adventures and posted a diary. I've just done a vicarious tour of South America, Easter Island and Central America.

I've never bothered with IG. I think the novelty of posting on FB has worn off too.
My FB Newsfeed is just full of reels and adverts, friend suggestions etc. Very rarely a friend's newsfeed is the first thing I see. If I want to see if a friend has posted something recentluly I have to seek them out. I think it must be the same for other people, so I think what's the point in posting anything.

Never used anything like FB, Insta don’t watch all the TikTok etc stuff either
I probably don’t even know all the stuff out there either

Privacy is definitely a reason for me I really don’t and never had any need for people to ‘like’ a photo of me on holiday
Im not interested in posting stuff about myself or family for randoms to see and I’d rather just stick to actually talking to friends

I also believe that after my sons life was brought down by a trolling and abusive ex girlfriend ( shed moved abroad so couldn’t do it person ) who turned just about everyone he knew against him through her online posts that’s it’s a very dangerous place for people.

I’m hoping Starmer bans it for younger people.

I think they are running around taking pictures of stuff and not living in the moment.

If you miss the memories, you can still do a post but shown only to you.

It wasn't my friends using AI! It was just the constant slew of AI-generated suggested posts/accounts to follow. I absolutely don't judge people for using social media, or for posting. I never found social media problematic, in the sense that none of the people I followed or was friends with were annoying or twatty or argumentative or show-offy. It's just that less and less of my feed was actually stuff/people I'd actually chosen to follow.

I use some SM, but never Facebook. I also never put anything personal online, so my comments would be on sport, theatre, arts events etc. Very occasionally current affairs, but I only ever post positive comments.
I really don't understand people who put their entire life online - why do they think anyone would be interested? Not to mention the stupidity of posting holiday photos, while actually still away!

I'm very similar to you, used to post loads (fb not Instagram) but have cut down dramatically over the last year or so. I think it's because most of my friends have cut down or stopped too and it doesn't have the same appeal now, full of ads & ai crap. I too used it like a diary and liked seeing the memories come up so I made an unconscious rule to only post once a month so I still had some record to look back on and was also staying loosley in touch with a few distant friends & family (esp.some relatives overseas). As it happens I've only actually posted once this year (some pics from a city break) and like you feel a bit cringy doing so now I'm out of the habit! For example, last night we went out for a family dinner to a local restaurant to celebrate something my son had achieved. There was a time I would've done a check in as standard, even without the achievement, as I was incapable of even going to the local park or pub without posting. I considered it but quickly dismissed it as unnecessary and possibly boastful, especially as I have friends whose DC aren't doing so well. Really not sure when I'll post again now I'm out if the habit.

I know several people who don't post yet I know lead very full lives with lots of socialising, holidays etc so I certainly don't think not posting equals a boring life. I also have friends who post lots of this stuff and it's starting to look a bit show offy now, although I generally like seeing holiday posts as it gives me ideas. I also have a few people who post lots of mundane stuff but never really go anywhere or do anything, in some cases because of ill health or other circumstances, so it depends really.

I post very occasionally so I know I'm not who you were aiming your post at.

But I assume the less people post the more of a life they have. I rarely post because I'm busy enjoying doing things and being in the moment.