Facebook /messenger problem

[Bigtrip2026]

I'm not the most tech savvy so excuse the dumbness but this is driving me mad. How can I turn off my activity on Facebook and messenger so that others can't see I am on it. The interchangeable and individual activity alert is driving me mad. I have friends and contacts who think because I am awake in the middle of the night that I want to interact ....I really really don't.

I have 2 devices a tablet and smart phone and have tried to turn off activity in settings on both but seemingly the minute I go online I get messages from friends. My devices don't seem to have an option to just switch it off completely.

I'm not a fan of Facebook at all but due to some local news information I have it to keep informed. I don't use it to communicate with people as such or post about my life or read about anyone really. Not a fan of messenger either I'm more of a WhatsApp person but again a few people I know prefer messenger and so I keep it on under duress.

[LetMeGoogleThat]

Go to the menu 3 little lines, open it and select the gear icon. You should see turn on/off active status.

[Bakerfoot]

If you turn it off for you, you can't see when others are active or have seen your messages.

I just turn off sound notifications, I certainly don't see a Messenger message as an instant summons so respond.

If you're not a fan of FB and barely use it, why are you showing active in the middle of the night 🤣

[Bigtrip2026]

Sometimes I leave the page open and have scrolled onto another page and this is what I am thinking is happening if I turn my phone on and am looking at something else entirely then it flags up that I am active.

As I am an insomniac I sometimes listen to podcasts or YouTube interviews and they help me get back to sleep.