Letting go of social media for good

For the most part, people only share the good stuff that is going on in their lives on Facebook. You might see pics of your friends on a vacation, but their whole life isn't a vacation. Who want's to show the public the bad stuff in their lives?

This is completely true. One of the things I always knew, but never really ACCEPTED was that people always show their absolute BEST on Facebook, making their lives seems so glamourous. All the ugliness in their lives is held back behind a curtain we never see.

Facebook is just a big "rose colored lens" view of reality.

I also know the problem of being glued to social media, although for me it mainly is youtube. When I start, I usually have the problem, that I simply cannot stop. After watching videos for over one hour, I am usually annoyed at myself and really disappointed that I am not stronger in resisting.

So what I started doing instead of removing accounts, as it is too easy to recreate them, block annoying pages for most of the time every day.

For example with Cold Turkey, WasteNoTime or Leechblock, you can block specific websites. You can even specify a schedule or a maximum amount of time. For example, I block youtube, facebook, and twitter every day from 8am to 8pm. This way I can make sure, that I will be able to focus, but I still do not have to stay away from social media altogether.

Maybe something similar could work for you?

I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I had abandoned Facebook a long time ago, and recently went back and its just whatever now. I just scroll and "like" or now they have "heart" but its not too bad because I do get a laugh here and there, and its kind of cool to still be in contact with all those people.

I totally understand your reasons for leaving though. I used to do the same exact things, and it would be hurtful to me, and of course depress me. But I am in a better place so three years later, I reactivated my account and its not so bad anymore.

It may take time, but who knows? Maybe you will be able to move past the bad stuff about social media. But if not, just think you're not really losing much, just something that hurt you, and you don't really need it anyway. That's how I had felt for a long time.

I went back and forth about social media. I got hurt by crazy family members going on rampages when they were having an episode. Then I got annoyed and thought “hey wait a minute, this my account..I can say whatever I want to say just like everyone else!” If I don’t feel like looking at it I don’t. I post stuff about mental health awareness, and other social issues. If I’m having a bad day I say it. I unfriend anyone who gets in my nerves or says rude things to me and even if we are family or “friends.”

Hello,

I am looking to get rid of my social media accounts for good. As far as I know, all are scheduled to be deleted if not deleted already.

For me, it's easy to hop right back on and create a new profile. I've had this issue on-and-off for almost 4 years now.

The urge to see how people are doing and to look up former partners and acquaintances are just so tough to push away.

I personally believe that being on social media is incredibly harmful for me and the inner peace and calmness I want to have.

However, this issue of mine is completely consistent and troublesome for me. I think I'm trying to compare myself to other people and perhaps beat myself up for not being a good enough partner and friend to others. (I don't have close friends, and I'm single, just to be clear.)

I'm grateful to open up about this issue here. As I'm writing this, I'm noticing issues that involve more than social media, but I just wanted to write this out to see if anyone can relate or can help in anyway. I hope to let my T know how I feel about this topic as well.

I appreciate your time. Thank you.