This is great! I feel like my issue is more with Twitter (and is kind of going away as that place slowly implodes), but I resonated with a lot of the insights. And admire the methodical way you went about quitting to ensure you wouldn't sneak right back! Congrats on kicking one of the nastiest habits there is.
Good for you. I used to have an IG account but it didn’t make me feel good about myself or others. I know you have kids and limited free time but I’d suggest the NYTimes Games app for when you have downtime and feel like you need a ‘fix.’ Exercising your brain while doing the crossword or sudoku is a lovely way to spend a few minutes each day.
Also, a follow-up question I have: since quitting, is it more difficult to keep in touch with old friends you don’t see often? That is maybe my number one reason for hesitating before I do something similar.
Yes, it definitely is, and that's certainly a drawback. I really miss the community aspect. If I were able to start from scratch today, I'd have no followers, only post photos for my own journaling, and follow only people I know personally. One hack I've heard of people doing to stay in touch with friends is never scrolling their feed, but to go to their "following" list and tap one profile at a time and catch up on whatever the person has posted. There are certainly creative work arounds to the platform's addictive design. Obviously I had to remove myself completely, but it's not the only solution to a healthy/ier use of Instagram.
Wow. I wish this was required reading, it is so poignant and puts really big, complex feelings into words that over and over again made me think “yes exactly,” “wow, I didn’t even know I felt that til I read that Alex felt that too” and “how am I, how are any of us, surviving social media?” This incredibly personal, incredibly honest, incredibly accurate analysis has really given me pause. Thanks for every authentic drop of it.
Hi Alex, thank you for sharing this ♥️ I am rethinking my own relationship with the platform (new year and all that) and loved reading about your experience.
Proud of you, Alex -- you know why 😉
Oh Sarah thank you!
This is great! I feel like my issue is more with Twitter (and is kind of going away as that place slowly implodes), but I resonated with a lot of the insights. And admire the methodical way you went about quitting to ensure you wouldn't sneak right back! Congrats on kicking one of the nastiest habits there is.
Thanks Sara.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you!
thank you for this honesty. I know there are positives to SM - but I wish it was never invented.
Thank you Mimi.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, I’m sure that was so difficult. Forwarded to 5 friends already.
Thank you Jenny.
Good for you. I used to have an IG account but it didn’t make me feel good about myself or others. I know you have kids and limited free time but I’d suggest the NYTimes Games app for when you have downtime and feel like you need a ‘fix.’ Exercising your brain while doing the crossword or sudoku is a lovely way to spend a few minutes each day.
Thanks Amanda. I just discovered Connections, it's so fun!
I so appreciate your vulnerability in sharing, and really admire how you’ve made a difficult change in your life! You inspire me!
Also, a follow-up question I have: since quitting, is it more difficult to keep in touch with old friends you don’t see often? That is maybe my number one reason for hesitating before I do something similar.
Yes, it definitely is, and that's certainly a drawback. I really miss the community aspect. If I were able to start from scratch today, I'd have no followers, only post photos for my own journaling, and follow only people I know personally. One hack I've heard of people doing to stay in touch with friends is never scrolling their feed, but to go to their "following" list and tap one profile at a time and catch up on whatever the person has posted. There are certainly creative work arounds to the platform's addictive design. Obviously I had to remove myself completely, but it's not the only solution to a healthy/ier use of Instagram.
Wow. I wish this was required reading, it is so poignant and puts really big, complex feelings into words that over and over again made me think “yes exactly,” “wow, I didn’t even know I felt that til I read that Alex felt that too” and “how am I, how are any of us, surviving social media?” This incredibly personal, incredibly honest, incredibly accurate analysis has really given me pause. Thanks for every authentic drop of it.
Hi Alex, thank you for sharing this ♥️ I am rethinking my own relationship with the platform (new year and all that) and loved reading about your experience.
the way I come back and re-read this - thank you
I'm glad that you too dumped IG, I wasted so much time on that app!
Really great post. Love your honesty. I’m also working on getting on instagram.