Did quitting social media improve your mental health?

[Parkmama]

Just that really . . . I feel like I spend too much time on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok (and on MN!) and wonder if it's having a detrimental impact on my already fragile mental health. I'm wondering if I need to take a break from it to support my overall well-being. I don't generally feel worse for the scrolling, other than feeling guilty for the time I might have wasted, when I could have been doing something more productive or guilty about time I could have spent doing something with my DC. But I have a feeling that the negative impact can be really subtle and not something I am perhaps even aware of in the moment.

Does anyone have experience of taking a social media break and finding an improvement in the state of their mental health?

GOD YES. I have all social media apps hidden under several layers of “do not click here” folders in my phone. I’ve hidden all the boards on MN that don’t leave me feeling cheerful.

I always felt significantly worse for the scrolling, though, quite aside from the time wasted. I have made a New Years resolution for 2021 that if I’m going to waste time I should do it doing something I enjoy, like reading or playing a silly game on my phone that I love, rather than making myself feel shit. It’s going well!

But from what you say, OP, I’d look at it this way: take the break, what’s the worst that could happen?!

Facebook makes me feel worse. TikTok really cheers me up, teaches me stuff, and makes me laugh.

I've never done insta or tik tok, but I did find that Facebook made me feel bad, comparing my life to others "best bits ". I unfollowed everyone except my immediate family and now only use it for news from the council, kids activities etc. Much less time scrolling on it (only have a few new posts per day) and definitely feel better. Spend too much time on MN, although I don't think that makes me feel bad, just wastes time...

Oh definitely. Ditching Facebook has been so refreshing, I'm free of other peoples noise, even if it was 'nice' noise I just don't need it in my head. I still use mumsnet but am choosy about what I'll click on and it doesn't take up much headspace as it's all anonymous.

100%. Been nearly a year of being off everything and I haven't looked back

YES YES YES

I broke the Facebook habit and it’s wonderful to be without it.

If I have to go back to check a sports club announcement or something and I end up on it I absolutely hate it and everything seems so ridiculous and contrived!

I have seen enough ‘happy birthday/anniversary to my darling boo, you are soooo amazing love you my darling’ nonsense, or ‘I believe in xyz, if you don’t, we are not friends so jog on’ statements to last a lifetime! I am actually scarlet for people who write that shit. When you step away from it it all looks so pathetic.

I only joined FB to be able to receive and give instant messages from one person (who persuaded me to join); I do not use my real name and have virtually no 'friends' :-). I hate it, it is so banal. I'm horrified at the way people display photographs and talk about personal (and banal) things. It isn't something that would ever be a habit for me but can imagine, if it did, my mental health would certainly suffer.

Definitely ! God rid of Facebook years ago - felt so much better for it. Had to go back to it for a sports club and was shocked at how anxious it made me - so came off again.

I was on Instagram for a while, mainly for bands / foodie following but during lockdown it was terrible. Comparison is the thief of joy and all that. I was struggling during lockdown (single parent with toddler home full time whilst wfh) and to see pics of people out for a run / sun bathing etc just brought me down further so came off that last summer and haven’t looked back

I am fortunate that a lot of my friends aren’t on them either - so we are a bit old school in that we find out about what each other has been up to through text / phone call / talking rather than seeing a post or a pic but I like it and it’s a richer conversation.

I can’t see a point I’ll go back to social media in all honesty. I just think it’s all a bit fake and everyone edits to some extent to portray a lifestyle

Yes 5 years ago for Instagram and almost 10 for Facebook. Forums are an annoying displacement though.

Yes, I no longer access FB/Instagram though I keep accounts open as I downloaded years of photographs. I have no regrets.

I felt crap after scrolling through Instagram - glamorous overly made up women with wardrobes of clothes/shoes, beautiful houses, busy social lives etc. I would post and check in on the hour to identify how many 'likes' and comments I received. I would feel insecure when friends and family were inundated with compliments on their posts. It really knocked my confidence.

I do not have the right look for social media - being on there made me feel I was not good enough.

ABSOLUTELY YES! Deleted Instagram way back and overall it was really good for me. I actually temporarily got it back during lockdown when I was bored and my self esteem/mental health went down so badly despite being logged in for half an hour the whole likes and comments amount was too much for me to handle. Deleted Snapchat at the beginning of lockdown one and had no regrets about that, though have since had it back to keep in touch with college people as they don’t use WhatsApp etc, though the people I tend to talk to most I do over on WhatsApp/over FaceTime anyway!