Hate FB birthday wishes

Does anyone else dislike having birthday wishes on Facebook? Did you hide your birthday so no one would be notified? I hid mine for the past couple years so no one would be notified and feel obligated to wish me a happy birthday. This year, I only received two wishes. One came the day before my birthday before I turned off the notifications but after I did, I only got one more from a family member the next day. That is a big difference from the past where I received many due to people feeling obligated to do so, and I hated it back then. Last year was the first year I hid my birthday and I got less than ten wishes.

Does anyone else think birthday wishes are forced since Facebook is telling them to do so? I feel like it is. If someone really knows you and likes you well enough, they will send you a birthday wish even when there is no notification. Also I feel like wishes through texts and private messages are better than those displayed on people's timeline. I also only send people I like and know well enough birthday wishes too. Do you ever feel obligated to send a birthday wish on Facebook due to you being notified to do so? I just feel that having a social media site telling someone to wish you a happy birthday makes it less genuine since most people wouldn't wish you a happy birthday if there was no reminder to tell you.

I never wish anyone happy birthday on Facebook. Not even family members. Therefore hardly anyone wishes me happy birthday on Facebook. It doesn’t bother me. Why should someone else do it if I’m not doing it back?

In general I don’t make a big deal out of birthdays.

I agree. To me, birthdays are just another day on the calendar. Nothing special. In fact, I find it somewhat immature when some people get very upset or angry at people who forget to wish them a happy birthday.

I totally agree with you.

I never enabled the birthday notification on my fb account and am so glad of that. I jokingly said that you can tell who your real friends are by disabling birthday notification and seeing who remembers your bday. I send birthday wishes to family and some friends, but don't post them on their timeline if their bday notification is disabled.

I like the reminders. I want to with people a happy birthday, but I simply dont remember every birthday. I dont feel obligated to. That doesnt make sense to me.

I am wild about my birthday to the point that close friends will wish me a happy birth month. Lol. I care not if people wish me a happy birthday on fb. I care even less about their motivation if they do.

I am of the frame of mind that celebration is a good thing and I dont over analyze.

I totally agree with everything you said. I rarely post on other people’s timelines too. Either I text them or if that is not possible, send them a private facebook message. Yeah most people do it out of obligation when the notifications are turned on.

Haha yep.

That’s good if you’re okay with it. I just simply don’t like seeing people do things out of obligation.

I used to wish everyone happy birthday on Facebook, but now I don't wish anyone. It feels insincere to me. I call family members on their birthdays and that's about it.

This women at work who is like 37 talked non-stop for a week about her birthday. She said a few days in a row that she would bring donuts for everyone. But when it was her birthday there were no donuts. It was pretty annoying.

I don't mention my birthday at work. I hate the attention. also when I was in groups if you mentioned even a few days later that it had been your birthday this one person would start singing happy birthday and force the entire room to sing along.I hated that.

So now I just keep my birthday with my family and I don't mention it to anyone else.

Totally agree. It is sort of insincere because most people are only doing it out of obligation. I just text friends happy birthday now, and for some other people who i may actually like but can’t text, I’ll send them a facebook message. More personal that way I believe.

No donuts after all those promises?!?!

I'm kind of okay with Fb birthday notifications. I like wishing people I care about a Happy Birthday. I don't wish every Fb friend a happy birthday, though.


I usually don't receive as many birthday greetings online or off as many people do because my b-day is right between Christmas and New Year's Eve. People are generally "holiday'ed out". I try to roll with it, but sometimes I do feel kind-of hurt.

Yeah I can see why you would feel left out.

Why do you assume its obligation? You can see a fb notification and pretend you didn't. Do people really feel like they HAVE to wish other people a happy birthday? Because that is seriously strange to me. If I dont want to, I dont.

Even if they never, ever talk to you I doubt t its obligation. It's being nice.

I’m sure there are people that do it because they feel like they have to, especially if that other person wished them a happy birthday as well.

You're right. Its possible. Why would you choose to focus on the idea that maybe it was obligation motivated instead of just being happy they took the time to reach out.

I hope that I'm not crossing any lines here. I dont mean to upset. I just want to give an alternate perspective.

I agree, I am the same way. I let people figure it out on their own.

No you’re fine. I just like to prevent people from possibly doing something they secretly may not want to do.

That's not your responsibility. By this logic you are also denying people the option to do something they do want to do because they no longer know when your birthday is.

You have no idea what other people are thinking. It does no good to place your thoughts in their heads. Do what makes you comfortable.

I used to hide my birthday, but I don’t anymore. I see the birthday greeting as just one light social chat is all. Some people like to post cute gifs, jokes, or pics. It’s ok.

My real life birthday is better, of course—receiving origami, card, and chocolate from my daughter. Fb doesn’t involve that kind of “effort” so I don’t think I’m really bothering anyone with the notification. I might get a dozen greetings or so, although I have a vast number of fb connections.

I hate birthday option on Facebook, because when I have birthday I get a lot wishes from people via Facebook, but only a few in real world. It is something wrong with me? Maybe I am unable to create stronger relationships.

I have begun to ignore the wishes and yes I feel that doing so is enforced by FB. But I just can't keep up; and, the truth is, I just can't always think up something witty to say other than a simple 'Happy Birthday". I feel ****** at times for not doings so I admit. But then it is my own birthday that rolls around and not everyone wishes me a happy birthday so I don't feel so bad anymore.

They clutter up my time. After a few days, I delete them all.