Loved this experiment! I have deleted all social media from my phone, and just have IG in my iPad. It’s not a very good experience using it on my iPad so this puts me off and hence I use it less! 👍
Thank you for sharing your experience! I have written about this topic for years as I have actually deleted and reopened Instagram accounts more times than I can count! I had gone cold turkey from all Meta products from 2020-2022 then tricked myself into opening Instagram for my Pilates teaching - which didn’t get me any clients. Word of mouth did 😊
I felt sucked back into the doomscrolling (even though I didn’t use the app) and I detested the data sucking methods they used. Once I saw Meta released surveillance capital Smart Glasses, it infuriated me enough to hit delete on my accounts (I ended up making a personal as well as business 🙄).
I miss the connection with people I don’t always stay in touch with, but is that a real measure of friendship? My dream is to hand write letters instead and I may just start it.
I found my sweetspot by deleting the instagram app on the phone but continue using it from my laptop browser - I rarely use it but it's still there. I will probably have to install the app once I am sharing again. It's possible from the browser but not stories I think 🤔
I deleted my Instagram app last December and just recently started using it again. I honestly didn’t miss the scrolling, the stressing about what to post and write about. For me the worst part was comparing my work with others. I’ve unfollowed many accounts but I feel that comparison trap is always lurking in the back. I’m back to using it because it’s my biggest platform and I feel like it’s the best way to connect with my audience. I hope to grow my Substack, sharing here is less stressful so far :)
Ik wil je graag laten weten dat ik spontaan begon te glimlachen als ik zag dat je terug verscheen in mijn mailbox. Ik kijk altijd uit naar jouw brief. Deze keer heb ik genoten van je filmpje en de leuke, mooie illustraties! Ik denk dat jouw brief goed aansluit bij wat ik voel, en waar ik nood aan heb. Ik vond het bijzonder leuk om eens te ondervinden dat er nog mensen zijn -en dan nog mensen die er durven voor uitkomen- die vinden dat TV ook gewoon leuk, ontspannend kan zijn. Soms is TV kijken de enige manier om mijn gedachtenstroom het zwijgen op te leggen. (Momenteel een beetje verslaafd aan Father Brown ;-). En in plaats van mij daar schuldig over te voelen (alhoewel) probeer ik van dat gevoel te genieten. Blij dat je terug bent MAAR zeker en vast ook alle begrip als je er graag tussenuit wil!
I deleted my Instagram account a year ago and the detox was real. I didn't like that every activity would end up being considered about photos and how to hashtag or tag for engagement. I'm going to try and to start selling my illustrations and products without social media. This doesn't mean not paying for advertising. At this point, unless one pays IG anyway, getting engagement is going to be extremely difficult. That's Facebook/Meta for you. I might as well just pay for Google ads and reach a broader audience.
The unexpected downside was missing the ability to learn about new artists and IG actually gave me a reason to create. Even if I only got a few views, posting seemed to motivate me. Since I left the social media world (with exception to some lesser known platforms like SUBS.tv and Doodle Addicts) I've enjoyed finding those artists through their newsletters and substacks. It gives me hope that I can do the same.
Thanks for sharing the benefits of your time offline! I like to put a colorful hair-tie around my phone to remind me to focus on what I need to be doing. It also makes scrolling annoying so I don’t want to do it! 😆
Unplugging from the internet for a month
Loved this experiment! I have deleted all social media from my phone, and just have IG in my iPad. It’s not a very good experience using it on my iPad so this puts me off and hence I use it less! 👍
Thank you for sharing your experience! I have written about this topic for years as I have actually deleted and reopened Instagram accounts more times than I can count! I had gone cold turkey from all Meta products from 2020-2022 then tricked myself into opening Instagram for my Pilates teaching - which didn’t get me any clients. Word of mouth did 😊
I felt sucked back into the doomscrolling (even though I didn’t use the app) and I detested the data sucking methods they used. Once I saw Meta released surveillance capital Smart Glasses, it infuriated me enough to hit delete on my accounts (I ended up making a personal as well as business 🙄).
I miss the connection with people I don’t always stay in touch with, but is that a real measure of friendship? My dream is to hand write letters instead and I may just start it.
I found my sweetspot by deleting the instagram app on the phone but continue using it from my laptop browser - I rarely use it but it's still there. I will probably have to install the app once I am sharing again. It's possible from the browser but not stories I think 🤔
I deleted my Instagram app last December and just recently started using it again. I honestly didn’t miss the scrolling, the stressing about what to post and write about. For me the worst part was comparing my work with others. I’ve unfollowed many accounts but I feel that comparison trap is always lurking in the back. I’m back to using it because it’s my biggest platform and I feel like it’s the best way to connect with my audience. I hope to grow my Substack, sharing here is less stressful so far :)
Dag Marloes,
Ik wil je graag laten weten dat ik spontaan begon te glimlachen als ik zag dat je terug verscheen in mijn mailbox. Ik kijk altijd uit naar jouw brief. Deze keer heb ik genoten van je filmpje en de leuke, mooie illustraties! Ik denk dat jouw brief goed aansluit bij wat ik voel, en waar ik nood aan heb. Ik vond het bijzonder leuk om eens te ondervinden dat er nog mensen zijn -en dan nog mensen die er durven voor uitkomen- die vinden dat TV ook gewoon leuk, ontspannend kan zijn. Soms is TV kijken de enige manier om mijn gedachtenstroom het zwijgen op te leggen. (Momenteel een beetje verslaafd aan Father Brown ;-). En in plaats van mij daar schuldig over te voelen (alhoewel) probeer ik van dat gevoel te genieten. Blij dat je terug bent MAAR zeker en vast ook alle begrip als je er graag tussenuit wil!
Liefs,
Kaatje
I deleted my Instagram account a year ago and the detox was real. I didn't like that every activity would end up being considered about photos and how to hashtag or tag for engagement. I'm going to try and to start selling my illustrations and products without social media. This doesn't mean not paying for advertising. At this point, unless one pays IG anyway, getting engagement is going to be extremely difficult. That's Facebook/Meta for you. I might as well just pay for Google ads and reach a broader audience.
The unexpected downside was missing the ability to learn about new artists and IG actually gave me a reason to create. Even if I only got a few views, posting seemed to motivate me. Since I left the social media world (with exception to some lesser known platforms like SUBS.tv and Doodle Addicts) I've enjoyed finding those artists through their newsletters and substacks. It gives me hope that I can do the same.
I loved the bit about the Velcro - so much food for thought there!
Thanks for a lovely post! I think the word is "stimuli", but maybe there's a better one...
Thanks for sharing the benefits of your time offline! I like to put a colorful hair-tie around my phone to remind me to focus on what I need to be doing. It also makes scrolling annoying so I don’t want to do it! 😆