how are we feeling about instagram at the moment?
and an experiment of sorts...
Something strange happened this past weekend and at first, I couldn't put my finger on it. What was different? Here in the states, our country had a long three-day-weekend celebrating Memorial Day but that was nothing new. I felt okay, peaceful actually and because I felt that way, I was trying to figure out why. And I realized, after having a think about it, I was at peace because I hadn't been influenced. I hadn't been influenced to go somewhere I didn't want to go, purchase something I didn't want to buy, or partake in an activity I didn't want to do.
This is what happens when you take your ten-year-old Instagram account off of your phone.
Let me back up a bit...
I decided to do an experiment for the month of April and take my account off of my phone and get rid of the app. If I wanted to access my account, I had to do it only through my laptop. I decided to do this experiment because I wanted my time back and pursue other things, like writing for instance. I didn't like the amount of time I was spending on there and I was quite tired of scrolling through other people's lives instead of living my own.
So, the first of April came and off came my account of my phone. I reminded myself that the experiment was only for 30 days, and I could always log back on to my account through my phone once the experiment was over. So, for the entire month of April, I only logged on to my account through my laptop and found that... I was okay with it?
One of the benefits right away that I noticed by only accessing Instagram through my laptop was that I didn't check my account that often. Sometimes days would go by before I even logged on. Did I miss some people's stories? Probably. But are we really meant to know the ins and outs and comings and goings of everyone we follow all of the time? Probably not. I didn't actually have FOMO regarding the people that I was following, I really was fine with not being completely invested in everyone's accounts every day.
The other major benefit I noticed with only accessing Instagram via my laptop was that I didn't feel I was being influenced and didn't see nearly as many ads. I didn't realize just how many ads are thrown at you when you utilize Instagram through your smartphone. So. Many. It really is easier to bypass the advertisements when you are viewing Instagram through your computer.
I also want to add that I have not posted to my grid since December. I know that is quite a long time in Instagram-land to go without posting, but for several months, I have not had the inclination to share any photos or anything. I barely even posted to stories. I think that is why this experiment seemed to work for me.
Because I put a bit of friction between me and Instagram by only looking at my account through the computer, I unknowingly made it easier to untether myself from the 'gram. Suffice to say, it is now the end of May, and my longtime Instagram account is still not back on my phone, hence the peacefulness I felt at the weekend of not having been influenced in any way.
It was nice, I must say...
So, now the question must be asked, where do we go from here?
I've written about my ambivalence regarding Instagram before and my disinclination to "do things for the 'gram".
I am one of those people who remember Instagram from back in the day, looking fondly at chronological order photographs through rose-colored glasses. I am well aware, that the algorithm is a real thing and that there is no going back to those days. I enjoy photography and playing with the way the light can change a photo, but I have no interest in putting all this time and effort into something that doesn't feel sustainable.
Something
said recently in her interview with Tanya Lynch really struck me in regard to Instagram. I am paraphrasing but she said something to the effect that she never really found her tribe on Instagram and that was difficult whereas on Substack, she has truly found her people, the ones that get her and support her, and I remember hearing that and thinking yes, me too! I never found my people, so to speak on Instagram either. I did when I was first blogging a dozen years ago and that was amazing, and I have now found it here on Substack like Claire alluded to in her conversation.But Instagram? Not so much...
I feel happy and free and, in my element, on Substack. I enjoy my little piece of the internet here and I continue to put in the work necessary to make that happen.
Right now, Instagram does not figure into that equation.
So, this is where my heart is right now: my ten-year-old Instagram account will stay active, but it will continue to stay off of my smartphone for the time being, and I will not be posting anything to it. I will randomly, maybe once a week, it may be once a month, check it and see if anything pops up. But this is not a hard and fast rule. I may end up not checking it at all.
I really want to continue to focus on my writing and get more words down on paper. I also have some goals and ideas that I want to bring to fruition that I can't do, if I am not focused. Also, my girls' school year is coming to an end, and I want to be present and have fun this summer, and not wonder if I should post a photo or not of said activity.
The one thing I will not be doing is deleting my account. I am not ready to do that quite yet. Lighting a proverbial match to my account and all the photos there is not part of my headspace right now. I also want to be open to change. I can be stubborn and become a hardcore absolutist much to my detriment, and I am trying to become more malleable with my decision-making. There honestly might come a day where I become enamored with Instagram again and want to share things. I feel that this is probably unlikely but again, that is my viewpoint right now. Who knows what the future holds? The autumn season could blow in and I might feel the need to share all things pumpkin. You never know 😉
So, I am holding on to my Instagram account but not posting for now nor deleting. But! I am always here on Substack and enjoy hanging out on Notes if you'd fancy a chat.
How are you feeling about Instagram at the moment? Let me know in the comments!
🌺 Joining in with
and the Sparkle on Substack 24 Essays Club 🌺
I might try this out!! Such a good idea - I never realized that by taking Instagram off my phone, I can still access it on my laptop. Have you ever thought about accessing it through the browser on your phone?
Just subscribed to you so I can continue following your journey :)
I used to have an account on IG from the begging of it where I posted landscapes and macro photographs but almost two years ago I deleted it cause it was not accomplishing what I thought was it's job, inspire me and teach me about other artists and creatives. At that point with my attention freed I decided to get myself in trouble in something bigger than me,a you tube channel, where I had and still have the chance to do things more thoroughly and with more focus. Deleting that account also freed some time for devoting myself on a novel I'm writing.
In the whole picture, blogging is what I struggle with cause I don't want to post if I haven't had enough time to really reflect on a topic and having a yt channel takes a lot of my time. But I'm still happy to be here, even if only to try and learn. I left Instagram and I didn't regret it but I think the only thing that matters is realising how much it influences us, not if you delete it or simply stop looking at it.
I really appreciate your piece. Have an amazing day and thanks for sharing.