Time to hit the ‘unfollow button’

In last week’s edition of my column, I talked all things social media and how toxic Facebook can be. From the ‘checking in’ at the walk-in centre to those who create a perfect life for the purposes of their Facebook friends, judging by the response on Twitter, it seems I’m not the only one giving Facebook a wide birth these days for reasons just like these.

I officially ditched my personal Facebook profile almost two weeks ago and it’s been great ... kind of like the feeling when you clear out your wardrobe, bag up clothes you haven’t worn in years, donate them to charity and feel generally good about the whole experience.

In de-activating my account, last week I missed all of the first day back at school, ‘take a pic of your child in front of a door’ photographs.

I can’t say I’m devastated about that.

This trend is another example of only showing the best bits of life.

I wonder how many photographs were taken at said door before the perfect one was chosen to be shared online?

Nobody shares the ones of the kids squabbling, or with their eyes shut or with half their breakfast still round their mouth.

The reality of our first day back at school was me constantly saying, “can you please hurry up”, “brush your teeth please” and “if you’re late for your first day, you will have to explain why to the teacher” after catching my little girl playing on her games console wearing one sock and sporting unbrushed hair, just five minutes before we needed to leave the house. I bet I’m not alone here either!

Last week I shared that I much prefer Instagram as a social platform, mostly because the accounts I follow are very down-to-earth.

I’ve stayed away from following the polished and pristine mam bloggers, influencers and fitness people and instead opted for those with a dry sense of humour who are keeping it real.

If, like me, that’s the kind of account you want to follow on Instagram, then I’d highly recommend following some of my favourite people on there, including, Mother Pukka aka Anna White house, a London-based mam of two who campaigns for flexible working for parents and has me in stitches with her view of the world.

Also worth a follow are Rosie Ramsey and my fellow ex-Apprentice candidate, Luisa Zissman, both of whom are refreshingly honest about parenting and life.

I’ve always believed that surrounding yourself with people who are positive, funny and down-to-earth in real life is very important, and the same goes for the world of social media.

So if the things you look at online don’t make you feel good, then it’s time to hit that unfollow button.

“I’ve stayed away from following the polished and pristine mam bloggers” KATIE BULMER-COOKE