Problems with Social Media

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Have any of y'all struggled with your use of Social Media?

For the longest time I tended to "overshare" and to get involved in endless "Flame Wars". I could get paranoid about what my interlocutor was thinking, and my ADHD might make me fire off a response that was unnecessarily edgy.

I may have alexithymia, an inability to read my own emotions well, and that has made for some frustrating exchanges.

Definitely. My odd behavior offline tends to come out online as well, such as either lurking in the shadows or oversharing. It's not uncommon for people to assume I'm a guy because of how, "aggressive" I tend to come off.

I never spoke about myself growing up so it's like social media became that outlet to unleash everything, especially when I'm anonymous. It became apparent to me that I was oversharing and had to get better with it, but it's tricky.

I never spoke about myself growing up so it's like social media became that outlet to unleash everything...

I totally relate to that. Not participating in the "reindeer games" that NTs use to hone their social skills, I was pretty much making up my online identity on the fly.

How can you talk coherently about your social self if you have no idea who you are?

How do you know what's inappropriate when you're a loner who thinks what they want?

And how can you be successful friends online when you've never had friendships IRL?

Yes. I used to assume that people gave a f**k about what I had to say. They did end up giving a f**k...but not in the way I was expecting. Because I'm so socially handicapped, I'm still coming to grips with the fact that everything I've said and done all my life is f*****g embarrassing, highly inexcusable, and not at all normal.

Nah, but only because I've never used social media.

My partner is a Facebook junkie and talks about it to me now and then, and the whole thing sounds stressful and confusing to me. I avoid that stuff like the plague.

*Raises hand*
I am in the middle of a self imposed ban on all social media. I overshare, post inappropriate memes and comments, and I get caught up in “masking” online to make myself seem like a really popular and interesting NT. Due to my posting style of wacky and shocking content, I maxed out my Facebook followers and it got to my head bad. I would end up meeting followers in real life and I feel like I was a disappointment (quiet, not outgoing, not at all like my internet alter ego). It was exhausting and I felt obligated to post content all day to make ppl like me more and make ppl laugh. It felt good to get that kind of recognition for once in my life but it was very unhealthy overall. I haven’t been on Facebook in over a year and I feel very isolated as I have zero friends, but at least I’m less anxious over it. It’s just too easy to fabricate a fake personality and plan out posts. Like I could never quick fire witty responses like that irl or in public. I would just stand there and smile or say something awkward.

Like I could never quick fire witty responses like that irl or in public.

Sometimes I am a rather polished wit. But other times my mind just fails me and I can't string a coherent sentence together. I am actually ashamed of my public presentation; half of the people that encounter me on the street must regard me as some kind of idiot.

Yes. As far as I can tell, Facebonk never posted anything I wrote, presumably because I am not attractive to advertisers.

A little when I was younger, but my social skills in general were a lot worse back then, too. These days I feel like I have a pretty good idea of how to navigate the sites I use, though.

Big issues with it. Over-sharing, over-posting, over-arguing; distracted at work, at home, etc...finally put it aside "for good" several months ago.