Yah. I took an insta break too. I’ve been thinking about thinking about making it more like a diary. The algorithm isn’t interested in me anymore-- so making little vignettes that I don’t mind people I kinda know seeing, but making it for ME. Reminders of where I’ve been, photons (and photos) that made me smile. I’m not going to explain myself, just stuff I like and see if I can grow the equanimity to not care if you like it too or not. 💙
So how do we find you on insta when you go back? Do you mind sharing your handle here (if you already have I admit to being substack-deficient and I haven't found it)?
Loved this! I also struggle with Instagram, more from the consumer side of things. It’s an engrained habit to scroll through it when I’m bored and I waste so much time on it. I deleted the app off my phone but still go to the website because I’m addicted. I’d appreciate any and all tips for how you successfully stayed off it for so long!
I got off Instagram in May because I found I was relying on it for distraction too much. I didn’t take my iPad (where I put my Instagram to try to reduce my time on it because it was so annoying to use) when I went to run a 50k and waited until 2 days after the race to post which was a big deal to me! I may go back one day, but loved all your words on what it’s for and why we should all just wear the damn dress! :)
Yeah, I felt this one. I left Instagram for eye-health reasons but do miss connecting with old friends who were not really phone/email friends. I was thinking about returning. But that pull and push of being on IG is tricky because you must feed, or feel you must feed, the algorithm, and I only had a few hundred followers, unlike you! What to do, but wear the dress, I guess;)
I am new to your blog and I love it. I find joy escaping into a day in your life. I relate on many levels because I was born and raised in Colorado, lived and worked in Tahoe, love to ski and have always had Boston Terriers, plus my son is named Cooper. Ha! It’s a fun to see you explore and I can’t wait to see if this winter is a big one!
I’ve never done anything on social media for the algorithm - I admit to knowing nothing about algorithms. I post on Twitter because I have a really good friend who is only on Twitter and likes my photos. I post on Instagram because I have a couple family members who are only on Instagram and like seeing my photos. I post on Facebook as I have a bunch of loyal followers who have been there for a long time and they’re the nicest people ever. I feel supported by them on tough days especially which is pretty cool. I didn’t even know there was a search page on Instagram, lol. Now I have to go see what mine has. I definitely know my Facebook ads get tweaked based on whatever is going on in my life. Like right now they’re all things to do with back pain - but I actually ordered a crazy product from one of those ads and it works and it’s really helping me. So go figure!
Thanks for your post, and good job taking a break. I share a lot of your mixed feelings. I really dislike how Instagram has changed the community I’ve long been part of (trail/ultra running) making many less humble, less humorous, and more & more promotional and show off-y, trying to brand themselves instead of being regular people. I generally prefer photos to Reels because most Reels come across as trying too hard to be clever or to turn oneself into a celebrity. I’m grateful Substack is boosting long-form writing since blogging had devolved into IG captions. I do however use Instagram as a way to stay connected--but I’m using it less. Facebook way less too! Thanks again from this old curmudgeon. 
The thing with instagram (and most other social media companies now I guess!) is that they've removed the level playing field.
A decade or so ago, you could join instagram, facebook, tumblr, and if you put out engaging, funny or aesthetically pleasing content you'd get followers.
Those followers would then be able to scroll their feed chronologically and catch up on people they want to!
It hacks me off that instragam tells us what we want to see, and if you saw their latest feedback which went awry on twitter a month or two ago, they're just determined to stick their fingers in their ears and not make any meaningful changes.
I completely agree with your approach though, and I think if enough users take it, they'll be forced to back down (remember when platforms would try to launch some new feature and people would be like lol cute but no, and they'd quietly withdraw it?! now people are so quick to try and 'hack the algorithm').
I appreciate your mindset regarding posting with only thinking of what it can do for you via the algorithm. We need more realness. I hope more influencers start to question the purpose of it all as well. Being authentic has to still count for something, right? I often wonder how difficult it is for (fashion, home decor, lifestyle) influencers to keep it all up. And of course, as I’ve said before, how bad all the influencing is on the planet in those genres. Over consumption. Praise to you for trying to figure out a way to honor your moments and still be able to share and being true to what makes you happy. Cheers
Man, Instagram is such a complicated topic. I spent a big chunk of the pandemic building our followers up to 10K plus in hopes of using it to promote our memoir. When our memoir didn't sell, I figured I could use it to promote our Substack. But using IG for that has been a huge flop.
That's only part of the issue of course. As you point out, if you're a content creator, then it's very easy to start seeing the world in terms of nothing but possible content. Where to draw the line? How?
No easy answers there.
I actually quite IG for the most part about six months ago. Since then they've started promoting video more and more, and pushing the pay for play aspect.
Ironically, I'm going to start posting on IG again, but mostly as a place to have some of my favorite pics posted. I'm not going to worry about the algorithm or much else besides what I want to do with it.
Love this because of its perspective on so many things. It's a good feeling to know what is controlling you and what may be taking from your quality of life on one side while enhancing it on another. Good choices are made through being aware, growing and discovering the process of authenticity - ever elusive but always there to look at if you so choose.
I’ve often thought how glad I am not to need these apps for my livelihood but then, I wish I had your freedom from the 9-5. Grass is always greener I guess.
Yah. I took an insta break too. I’ve been thinking about thinking about making it more like a diary. The algorithm isn’t interested in me anymore-- so making little vignettes that I don’t mind people I kinda know seeing, but making it for ME. Reminders of where I’ve been, photons (and photos) that made me smile. I’m not going to explain myself, just stuff I like and see if I can grow the equanimity to not care if you like it too or not. 💙
I miss you on the ‘gram because it feels like we are neighbors that way. But absolutely get this and am so glad you’ve had an excellent break!
Perfect decision to be wholly you! Wear the damn dress!
So how do we find you on insta when you go back? Do you mind sharing your handle here (if you already have I admit to being substack-deficient and I haven't found it)?
Loved this! I also struggle with Instagram, more from the consumer side of things. It’s an engrained habit to scroll through it when I’m bored and I waste so much time on it. I deleted the app off my phone but still go to the website because I’m addicted. I’d appreciate any and all tips for how you successfully stayed off it for so long!
I got off Instagram in May because I found I was relying on it for distraction too much. I didn’t take my iPad (where I put my Instagram to try to reduce my time on it because it was so annoying to use) when I went to run a 50k and waited until 2 days after the race to post which was a big deal to me! I may go back one day, but loved all your words on what it’s for and why we should all just wear the damn dress! :)
Yeah, I felt this one. I left Instagram for eye-health reasons but do miss connecting with old friends who were not really phone/email friends. I was thinking about returning. But that pull and push of being on IG is tricky because you must feed, or feel you must feed, the algorithm, and I only had a few hundred followers, unlike you! What to do, but wear the dress, I guess;)
I am new to your blog and I love it. I find joy escaping into a day in your life. I relate on many levels because I was born and raised in Colorado, lived and worked in Tahoe, love to ski and have always had Boston Terriers, plus my son is named Cooper. Ha! It’s a fun to see you explore and I can’t wait to see if this winter is a big one!
I’ve never done anything on social media for the algorithm - I admit to knowing nothing about algorithms. I post on Twitter because I have a really good friend who is only on Twitter and likes my photos. I post on Instagram because I have a couple family members who are only on Instagram and like seeing my photos. I post on Facebook as I have a bunch of loyal followers who have been there for a long time and they’re the nicest people ever. I feel supported by them on tough days especially which is pretty cool. I didn’t even know there was a search page on Instagram, lol. Now I have to go see what mine has. I definitely know my Facebook ads get tweaked based on whatever is going on in my life. Like right now they’re all things to do with back pain - but I actually ordered a crazy product from one of those ads and it works and it’s really helping me. So go figure!
Thanks for your post, and good job taking a break. I share a lot of your mixed feelings. I really dislike how Instagram has changed the community I’ve long been part of (trail/ultra running) making many less humble, less humorous, and more & more promotional and show off-y, trying to brand themselves instead of being regular people. I generally prefer photos to Reels because most Reels come across as trying too hard to be clever or to turn oneself into a celebrity. I’m grateful Substack is boosting long-form writing since blogging had devolved into IG captions. I do however use Instagram as a way to stay connected--but I’m using it less. Facebook way less too! Thanks again from this old curmudgeon. 
Loved this post, and I totally agree.
The thing with instagram (and most other social media companies now I guess!) is that they've removed the level playing field.
A decade or so ago, you could join instagram, facebook, tumblr, and if you put out engaging, funny or aesthetically pleasing content you'd get followers.
Those followers would then be able to scroll their feed chronologically and catch up on people they want to!
It hacks me off that instragam tells us what we want to see, and if you saw their latest feedback which went awry on twitter a month or two ago, they're just determined to stick their fingers in their ears and not make any meaningful changes.
I completely agree with your approach though, and I think if enough users take it, they'll be forced to back down (remember when platforms would try to launch some new feature and people would be like lol cute but no, and they'd quietly withdraw it?! now people are so quick to try and 'hack the algorithm').
I appreciate your mindset regarding posting with only thinking of what it can do for you via the algorithm. We need more realness. I hope more influencers start to question the purpose of it all as well. Being authentic has to still count for something, right? I often wonder how difficult it is for (fashion, home decor, lifestyle) influencers to keep it all up. And of course, as I’ve said before, how bad all the influencing is on the planet in those genres. Over consumption. Praise to you for trying to figure out a way to honor your moments and still be able to share and being true to what makes you happy. Cheers
Man, Instagram is such a complicated topic. I spent a big chunk of the pandemic building our followers up to 10K plus in hopes of using it to promote our memoir. When our memoir didn't sell, I figured I could use it to promote our Substack. But using IG for that has been a huge flop.
That's only part of the issue of course. As you point out, if you're a content creator, then it's very easy to start seeing the world in terms of nothing but possible content. Where to draw the line? How?
No easy answers there.
I actually quite IG for the most part about six months ago. Since then they've started promoting video more and more, and pushing the pay for play aspect.
Ironically, I'm going to start posting on IG again, but mostly as a place to have some of my favorite pics posted. I'm not going to worry about the algorithm or much else besides what I want to do with it.
Great food for thought. Thanks for sharing.
Love this because of its perspective on so many things. It's a good feeling to know what is controlling you and what may be taking from your quality of life on one side while enhancing it on another. Good choices are made through being aware, growing and discovering the process of authenticity - ever elusive but always there to look at if you so choose.
I’ve often thought how glad I am not to need these apps for my livelihood but then, I wish I had your freedom from the 9-5. Grass is always greener I guess.