I gave up Facebook for about 2 years and it was great, but then I joined some activity groups and got sucked back into FB by telling myself I needed to keep up with group announcements.
God knows how long later (a couple of years??) I’m fully sucked into the scrolling addiction, telling myself the various “likes” and “follows” are things I need… But it’s just mindless scrolling of photos which are mostly just enhanced or even are irritating to me in some way. Never mind all the fomo and comparing to other people’s lives… The bits put on Facebook are never a true representation of others lives but it’s hard not to think you are not doing as good or having as much fun. I’ve had enough of seeing all the showboating and feeling like I have to compare.
I’ve found that late night scrolling gives me an almost hungover feeling the next morning!
It has to stop!! Aargghhhh.
I wonder if it is harder for us addicts to quit social media too? I feel like it has to be all or nothing, I cannot regulate my use, it just doesn’t work.
Scrolling addiction sucks and I’m trying to work on this myself. Facebook isn’t a big problem for me, but TikTok is. If you’ve never been on there, don’t start! The app is manufactured to keep you scrolling and scrolling for hours. I’d be ashamed to share my screen time with you some days.
And on top of this I have a full time job and many obligations (hence the hiding away on social), so my professional obligations get taken care of but the things I’d like to/need to do for myself get pushed to the wayside.
What strategies are you considering?
The last time I broke my social media addiction I partislly replaced it with Duolingo so I could at least learn something. I also started meditating regularly.
I’ve just found alternatives to the group information, such as asking to be added to WhatsApp groups, and trying to use websites. It didn’t go so well yesterday for the dance group cause they hadn’t updated it so I had to check in on FB to see what lessons were on. Ughhhh
Social media is designed to be addictive. It’s only purpose is to suck you in. I deleted my FB 9 years ago and I don’t miss it. I do excellent without it. IMHO, if social media is an issue, it’s better to start dealing with it.
Give me something to scroll and I will scroll it. Phones are absolutely addictive.
I gave up Facebook a few years back when I kept seeing photos of people’s new babies/vacations/weddings and I would think “Ugh, I hate that person”.
That was the catalyst. Seeing happiness (albeit hand picked and slightly filtered) and responding with hate got me to quit.
Now I scroll old meme threads continuously which is not any healthier.
I hope to try sleeping in a different room than my phone soon.
As an addict we can get addicted to just about any escape/tune out mechanism.
I also deleted FB some time ago. Just got fed up with stupid posts and stupid people. I got really angry by scrolling and that’s not healthy. I feel much better without all that shit.
I just keep fb because i got news from distant family there. Haven’t post anything for ages and deleted anything I posted or interacted or did or commented ages ago. Like everything. Took me an app and quite some time. But then I may lose the same time on instagram, or here (no offense) scrolling like I’m possessed by pixels.
Then I hit myself, put down the freaking phone and take my kindle instead. This $#|¥ is so addictive. And it’s only the beginning.
@Badger At last I find someone that feels the same about Facebook as I do.
I came to the Facebook party pretty late (2013) and only because I had to for my job (PR & Comms Manager). I no longer work yet this addiction to Facebook has got out of control.
If I didn’t need to sleep I’d be on there 24 hours a day. I literally spend my whole life on Facebook. My friends say I need to get out of my flat but I refuse (I think I’m a hermit). I ask them why when all my creature conforts are around me. Why would I actually want to leave my safe haven in order to “people”.
I need a serious social media (Facebook) detox. I can see that this is an addiction like any other.
I never participated. Bothers some folks when they ask about my Facebook page and I say don’t have one. If I have missed something I don’t know about it so no problem😀
cringe
