Taking a Break from Social Media

[jdb in AZ]

I keep seeing people announcing on Facebook that they'll be taking a break. Why izzit necessary to make such an announcement? Do they really think anyone would notice if they haven't posted in awhile? They usually come back before I miss them anyway.

 

[kimblebee]

They want people to either ask why they are leaving or beg them to stay. Attention seeking at its finest.

 

[greentea]

Maybe they are regularly in touch with people on Facebook and don't want anyone to worry if they disappear, or don't want anyone to send them anything time-sensitive that way? I've had invitations to family events sent over Facebook messages and other similar things (that I often miss seeing because I rarely log in). Or they just want to let people know because they want to let them know, I don't see it as a big deal or a reason to judge them for being attention seekers.

 

[dclpluto]

I know from here you see some regular posters than you don't hear from them. You wonder if they just quit the disboards or something bad happen to them. So I see nothing wrong in saying goodbye you are leaving instead of people wondering what happened to them.

 

[amberpi]

It can be attention seeking, or it can be a "hey, just to let you know." I regularly stop paying attention to social media for a bit, but have never actually SHUT IT DOWN. Loads of times when I'm a particularly time consuming contract, I might as well have "taken a break."

 

[wgeo]

You never know what you're gonna get with FB. Some people are attention hogs. Some people legit use it to keep in touch with people and to access invitations to social events and the like. Unless you really know the person very well you won't know which one they are.

 

[wenrob]

I haven't frequented FB since right after Christmas. No announcement, no fanfare, just stopped. No one seems to have noticed. My email filled with notifications on my birthday with people posting on my wall. Essentially they we were wishing me a Happy Birthday because FB told them too.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I am a very regular poster on Facebook, usually at least once a day. The people I communicate with on Facebook I have no other form of contact with them, I dont see them in real life as most of them live in different countries and timezones. I do post on Facebook if I will be less active on Facebook for a while. I know my friends would worry if they dont see me posting. Then again I only have 40 friends on Facebook so I guess Im not announcing it to the whole world. My friends would notice if I just disappeared without warning

 

[Newsies]

I'm in the college crowd and this is super common on my Facebook feed, but it doesn't bother me. Some "very regular" posters feel the need to cut back, usually during midterms or finals, and feel like posting something like that keeps them on track while providing a reason for their absence. I know a lot of girls I went to high school with have strict sorority rules where they need to deactivate their FB accounts during recruitment, so I see a lot of this pop up during late august and early January. I would rather see something like this on my feed than worry about why my friend who shares 25 buzzfeed videos a day stopped posting suddenly.

 

[disneychrista]

IMO, it is an attention thing, wanting to be asked why or asked to not stop.

 

[Felicis]

On the other side, when I took about a week off FB, just because of being busy with life, I had at least a dozen different people message me asking if I was ok etc. It made something non dramatic, into something way more dramatic. So if I knew that I would be off for a while, I would let people know.

It is all in the way they share though - vague booking deserves to be ignored. But if you are taking a break for a reason, say what the reason is, don't wait to be asked. That is the attention seeking sort of behaviour that irritates people.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I think it depends on what kind of social media.

It's usually attention seeking if it's on a forum. Sometimes it is on Facebook. And it's usually obvious- they make veiled references to unkind people or something which means (usually) someone called them on something they said and they're playing the victim card. I haven't got much patience for it. One of the travel forums I follow had that drama going on earlier this week. Tempest in a teacup.

On the other hand, if someone takes time off for sorority recruitment or something like that, I like it when they announce it. Because many people DO communicate by Facebook. My cousins do, for example, and if they dropped out of sight, no explanation, I'd be a bit concerned.

 

[tvguy]

For some FB is the main communications link they have with people. I know it is the way I communicate with some of my neighbors, I don't have a phone number for some of them.

 

[low-key]

ya know these are the same people at work that let you know they are going to poop

 

[smokeyblue]

ya know these are the same people at work that let you know they are going to poop

OMG, lol. There is a guy at work that is constantly seeking attention and he does this. So gross.

 

[superme80]

Most on my page who announce are regular posters who communicate regularly. They usually give an alternative way of communication. I know a few who do it for attention purposes, but they have been unfollowed or blocked by me already.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

OMG, lol. There is a guy at work that is constantly seeking attention and he does this. So gross.

Are we talking about the same thing because when I need to use the restroom at work I quietly let my boss know where I well be not what I well be doing

 

[minniebeth]

I have several Facebook friends who constantly tell me they are going to take a break. Then I see them on. Um, hello? You people know we can see when you're on FB, right? LOL....

 

[Westcoastwild]

I have several Facebook friends who constantly tell me they are going to take a break. Then I see them on. Um, hello? You people know we can see when you're on FB, right? LOL....

Lol. Maybe not? Friend of mine was making fun of me for being a night owl last week, and I'm like, did the cat tattle on me? No, she said, facebook did!

I had no idea, but I'm not the most Facebook savvy person- I only have it because it was easier than explaining that I didn't have it. I don't know why picking up a phone is so difficult for some people but apparently it is...

 

[usnuzuloose]

For some FB is the main communications link they have with people. I know it is the way I communicate with some of my neighbors, I don't have a phone number for some of them.

I am not fond of FB. But I gave a neighbor our number after moving in and boy I was sorry I did that. I finally had to change my number, they will be shocked the next time they call.