My friend won’t stop sending me photos

Aldom

Just click block. Problem solved.

You have to bite the bullet. As someone up thread said they are like emotional vampires
Wishing you much luck with the problems you have at home

Just click block. Problem solved.

When you next have reason to drop her an email (eg to arrange coffee etc) you could mention in writing that you are struggling with overload in your email/whatsapp/socialmedia, and because your husband and daughter are ill and have other family worries taking up your time it’s getting you down…..(so many messages from so many people).
Make it general rather than personal - she will hopefully take it onboard.

I’m on the school WhatsApp and I get fed up with my phone pinging constantly so I’ve muted that particular WhatsApp page indefinitely. When I have time I’ll go on to have a browse to see if I’ve missed anything. Muting is the way forward.

I’d carry on ignoring and ignoring eventually she’ll get the message. Put her contact on mute and retrieve when you feel like it. 🌺

vintageclassics

Hello Friend - I'm finding messages completely overwhelming at the moment due to Husband & Daughter's health concerns so I'm taking a break from all social messaging until further notice. I'm sure you understand

That shouldn't offend anyone

This. 👏

Ziggy62

So, if we're unhappy we don't won't to share our friend's happiness?

My daughter has decided not to have children but I love seeing pics of my friend's grandchildren and always send a card and a gift.

But the OP is being bombarded with photos and messages. To be honest, even if I was deliriously happy I would be overwhelmed by this. There's only so much oohing and aahing you can do over someone else's life. This amount of sharing, for most people, is overkill and intrusive.

As Debbi58 says, you can mute her whatsapp stream so you don't feel pestered and then just respond when/if you feel like it once in a while.

WhatsApp has a mute notification function. I use it all the time, I'm on a family WhatsApp group. My sisters are all much more active on there than me. Some conversations can go on and on , I just mute it for a day . Stops me getting overwhelmed

I would blame my phone and say it is unable to cope with too many photos, so for now, could she not send any !
Or sort of the same reason'Oh , just to let you know, can you not send me any photos for a while as for some reason my phone has stopped displaying them, so I won't be able to see any you send me'

If you say nothing, she will assume you have nothing to say. So say it - please do not send me any more photos until I tell you, because I am overwhelmed with life at the moment. If she gets offended, well, then - that's good, because your mailbox will not be inundated with stuff from her.

I don’t do these group chats, although I have been invited.
My friend says her phone pings non stop with useless drivel from people we used to go to knitting group with. I couldn’t stick that.

Thank you all for your very encouraging and supportive comments and also for all the great advice on how to deal with it. I haven’t actually commented on any of the photos for at least three months which shows a very thick skin (I love the phrase “rhino skin”!) and complete lack of tact and empathy on her part. I think maybe this friendship sadly has run its course!

Some friends don’t just send 2 or 3 photos - it’s dozens and dozens. I just tick one like in the main and scroll the rest 😂

Your response may depend on how much you want the friendship to continue. If you just continue to ignore her, I think she’ll eventually stop but you may lose contact with her. That won’t be easy as you’ll see all the messages she’s sending you but it would be possible.
Alternatively, I agree that you could reply saying it’s filling up your memory and could she please limit what she sends you.
I think perhaps, it’s made you realise understandably, how single minded, if not selfish, she can be, especially when she’s not asking how you are, so personally, I wouldn’t lose sleep whatever you decide to do.
It also dawns on me that she may be not be feeling as comfortable with her life as you may think, if she’s constantly almost asking for acknowledgement. If she was truly content I don’t think she’d have the need to continually send you stuff.
That said, it sounds like you have more than enough to deal with, so she may need to focus in someone else!

I delete the majority of photos, videos etc. sent by friends. The photos I retain are close family ones.
The OP should either ask her friend not to send photos, explaining it's because of her current family situation. Otherwise, delete them as they arrive and don't respond to the friend on such a regular basis. If the friend questions the OP, again it's an opportunity to explain that she cannot cope with so many photos /messages at this stressful time.

That is insensitive, I would just say you want a clear head now and don't want constant photos, I especially wouldn't want photos of other people's kids/babies. constant contact is demanding but you need to look after yourself

Oops, sorry, I also meant to say -- don't look at Whatsapp except maybe once a day - set a few minutes aside, if that's possible, then deal with what's there and don't look again until tomorrow.

I'm not a Whatsapp user nor will I ever be, for just this reason. Is there a facility for deleting photos/messages that you don't want? Do you really have to answer everything she sends? It's insensitive of her, yes, but bombarding people with the minutiae of our own lives seems to be regarded as normal now, so I doubt if she's doing it to intentionally hurt you.
Maybe you could give each message from her a cursory glance (in case there's something to have to respond to), then delete it and get on with your day.
Reply to her maybe once a week, then once a fortnight. If she comments on your lack of enthusiasm, tell her that, given your home life right now, you really don't have the time or energy to join in with social media. But you know your friend better than I do (!) so you'll know what you can say and how to phrase it.
I hope you continue to cope with life - I know what it's like and you have my sympathy.

I am truly sorry that you are having such a difficult time and totally understand you not wanting to be bombarded with anyone else's photographs.

Can you just say 'please stop sending the photos now, my phone has limited capacity' (yes, WhatsApp photos take up phone storage ). Alternatively, you could just block her, rather extreme I know but it would put an end to the problem.

I delete WhatsApp photos I do not want and I have set my phone not to save WhatsApp.

Hello Friend - I'm finding messages completely overwhelming at the moment due to Husband & Daughter's health concerns so I'm taking a break from all social messaging until further notice. I'm sure you understand

That shouldn't offend anyone

I only have my immediate family on Whatsapp. I never give the number to anyone else because I don't want interruptions to my day. When people ask if I use Whatsapp I say "Yes but it's just for family." You could delete your friend from your account and say you've decided to simplify your life because you are going through a very difficult time.

Sadgrandma

Could you perhaps tell your friend that you have reached the maximum storage on your phone and say, as much as you like to see her photos, ask her not to send any further photos as you don’t want to have to pay for extra storage.

Oh that's a rather good idea!

Yeah, it sounds a bit obnoxious and gloaty to me, to constantly barrage you with unrequested photos of herself and her boyfriend and her all-around great life. To me, it sounds like something a teenager would do.

How about a little white lie/social excuse? "Sorry, Polly Perfect, but I'm going to have to ask you to not send me photos. My phone takes forever to download them and it uses up the battery charge. Thanks! "