This simultaneously pleases and worries me! I'm pleased because I really do believe in the opportunities Instagram presents when we keep it in its place and use it in a way that serves us, rather than us serving it. BUT I'm also keen to stress that it's not for everyone, and that's ok. I don't want to be the reason people continue doing something that is making them mad or sad!
What are the reason(s) you are/ were thinking of quitting?
The reason I wanted to quit is that it's exhausting, and it takes too much of my time and most importantly energy. I haven't figured out how to keep it in its place (maybe because I have ADHD or maybe because these apps are based on the methodology developed in the Stanford Persuasion Lab by the leading scientists in the field and so they're simply stronger than our brain, I dunno.) Also I don't know if seeing it as a place to learn and share and connect as you suggest will work for me personally. I might. There are some accounts that I follow where I feel I'm truly learning something.
Why your post makes me think of going back to Instagram? Because you suggested some easy ways to be present there that don't require a lot of work. I just looked at my stats and saw that 4 of my subscribers came from Instagram, which is actually a significant number considering that I started that account from scratch when I started my Substack 2 months ago and I literally have like only 30 followers. So I think I'll give it another try. I just need to find a way to use it that doesn't make me feel like I'm pretending to be someone else.
Hi Tanya - I’m slowly catching up with comments and just realised I never came back to you about this comment. It’s interesting that you mention ADHD as in a couple of other pieces I mention how being neurodivergent might mean some of the things I suggest are less appropriate. The more dopamine hungry a brain is, along with the executive functioning element perhaps as well, can make social media really tricky to navigate for neurodivergent brains. I have found that putting physical boundaries between me and my phone is necessary, especially when I’m tired/ over-stimulated as this is when I tend to get ‘stuck’ in repetitive behaviours.
This is once again such a helpful post for us writers attempting to keep up with the modern world - and it certainly takes the pressure off. Thank you for breaking it down into more easily manageable steps!
I'd pretty decided to leave Instagram forever because its exhausting, but your post is making me reconsider.
This simultaneously pleases and worries me! I'm pleased because I really do believe in the opportunities Instagram presents when we keep it in its place and use it in a way that serves us, rather than us serving it. BUT I'm also keen to stress that it's not for everyone, and that's ok. I don't want to be the reason people continue doing something that is making them mad or sad!
What are the reason(s) you are/ were thinking of quitting?
The reason I wanted to quit is that it's exhausting, and it takes too much of my time and most importantly energy. I haven't figured out how to keep it in its place (maybe because I have ADHD or maybe because these apps are based on the methodology developed in the Stanford Persuasion Lab by the leading scientists in the field and so they're simply stronger than our brain, I dunno.) Also I don't know if seeing it as a place to learn and share and connect as you suggest will work for me personally. I might. There are some accounts that I follow where I feel I'm truly learning something.
Why your post makes me think of going back to Instagram? Because you suggested some easy ways to be present there that don't require a lot of work. I just looked at my stats and saw that 4 of my subscribers came from Instagram, which is actually a significant number considering that I started that account from scratch when I started my Substack 2 months ago and I literally have like only 30 followers. So I think I'll give it another try. I just need to find a way to use it that doesn't make me feel like I'm pretending to be someone else.
Hi Tanya - I’m slowly catching up with comments and just realised I never came back to you about this comment. It’s interesting that you mention ADHD as in a couple of other pieces I mention how being neurodivergent might mean some of the things I suggest are less appropriate. The more dopamine hungry a brain is, along with the executive functioning element perhaps as well, can make social media really tricky to navigate for neurodivergent brains. I have found that putting physical boundaries between me and my phone is necessary, especially when I’m tired/ over-stimulated as this is when I tend to get ‘stuck’ in repetitive behaviours.
Thank you, Nicola! It's always gonna be a work in progress, I guess our relationship with this technology.
This is once again such a helpful post for us writers attempting to keep up with the modern world - and it certainly takes the pressure off. Thank you for breaking it down into more easily manageable steps!
You're very welcome Anne - thank YOU for reading and taking the time to comment.