Do you feel like an outsider when your friends are constantly on their phones, scrolling through social media accounts? Does it feel like everyone is connected except for you? Contrary to popular belief, not having a social media account does not mean that there is anything suspicious about the person. There are several legitimate reasons why someone might choose not to join the fray of online networking and maintaining an active presence on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Why someone may not have any social media accounts

Nowadays, social media is a part of our lives, so if others discover that you don't have a social media account, you may get weird looks and cause people to think something else of you. It may not be surprising to garner such a reaction considering almost everybody has a social media presence through their accounts on various social media platforms. People use social media for multiple reasons, such as for entertainment, communication, conducting business, or finding people with similar interests as you.

So it makes you think, why would someone not have an account on any social media site or app? Does it make that person suspicious, or are they hiding something from us? We shouldn't overthink someone with no account on social media apps and websites, as it doesn't automatically mean they are evil or hiding something, although some do. There are perfectly valid reasons why someone would opt out or quit social media if they previously had one, and it could be any of the following reasons.

1. They value their privacy

Social media networks are like an online representation of our real world, with carefully crafted presentations of what we like to show about our lives to others. In a sense, social media is a public space; what we put out there gets seen by everybody on social media. We have control over what we can make public, but people seem to forget this and post many things, including private things, such as personal events and possessions. Some people value their private life more than others, and they may want to steer clear of social media because of its public nature and the tendency for people to expose many things about them.

There's also the fact that just by registering alone on a social media site, all the data you input about yourself for registration will be known by the company that manages the social media site. Although disclosures and agreements state how companies use your data, such as customizing advertisements based on your interests and the activities you do on their websites or apps, some may feel anxious about the safety of their data and for what actual use they will serve, so some people may decide not to create a social media account due to privacy concerns.

2. You don't have anything to post on social media

Most social media profiles appear extravagant and for a good reason. People usually post only the positive things happening in their lives and others they deem worthy of attention. People who frequently use social media may have been conditioned into thinking that their lives must be fabulous or else they won't be able to show anything on their profiles and posts. Not all of us have lives full of glamour and significant things happening. So, if you have a "normal" everyday life and don't have many eventful things happening regularly, you can have a reason not to engage in social media. Some people can be like this, as they don't see anything worthy to post online.

3. Your current work and preferred activities are not tied to social media

One can do various social media activities, such as communicating with people, posting different content, playing games, buying things, following and engaging in multiple interest groups, watching videos, conducting business, and many others. If none of your current interests or jobs align with social media usage, you have a reason not to use it. Although it is advantageous to have a social media presence for connections and opportunities, if it currently doesn't serve any purpose or give you any benefit from using it, it will be okay not to use it.

4. You don't want to experience the negative effects of social media

Social media can be beneficial when used properly, such as providing an easy means of communicating with anyone, entertainment, as a means of living by being an influencer or content creator, and opening opportunities like getting to know people that can refer you to job openings or conducting an online business through social media. However, social media also has adverse effects, and someone may not want to join social media because of it. Some of these negative effects include triggering envy due to engaging in social comparison because of the things that others post, lowered self-esteem due to seeing only the highlights of other people's lives, your private data being hacked and leaked somewhere, and the stress it can bring due to the toxicity of some people and how they behave online. Some don't want to get stressed and have their mental health affected by what they see on social media, so they don't use it or have any account at all.

5. Some have better things to do in their spare time, or they don't want to get distracted

Browsing social media can be an addicting activity that can waste your time if you don't have good self-control over yourself. People busy pursuing their goals or doing something else during their spare time may not use social media significantly if it doesn't benefit their interests and goals. Some may prefer meeting their friends in real life instead of chatting with them online, or someone's job is not tied to social media usage, so they don't have a reason to use it. Not everyone is required to engage in social media use as part of their daily lives, and there could be other things that are worth doing because they can help us grow and feel positive.

Social media platforms may or may not be integral to one's life.

While more people will want to believe that they need social media in their life, it's possible to flourish and live a good life without it. Our relationships with people don't have to depend on social media totally, and we can use other forms of entertainment and communication. Some people even quit social media after previously having active accounts due to the reasons we have listed, or perhaps they don't find any use for it with their current circumstances in life. What's essential to know is that social media is not a requirement to be able to enjoy life, and we shouldn't quickly judge those without social media accounts as suspicious because they may be busy enjoying life differently or pursuing something better worth their time. A social media profile doesn't wholly reflect who we are in real life, and most of the time, what most people post there is only a snippet of their actual lives, so there's no need to feel left out or get anxious even if you don't use social media in your life.