I've had it since maybe 2014. It documented quite a bit of my post-high school life: first jobs, university, friends I had back then, beautiful places I traveled to, my family, my dogs, and then the relationship I had with my ex-boyfriend. All the lovey dovey photos of us I use to post and look back with fondness. Once we broke up, I deleted nearly every single photo I had on my account except for a few that didn't hold much personal significance to me but still had bits of my personality; my account became very impersonal. I stopped lurking on instagram for a while, but still kept my account to add people and to keep in touch with family and friends. Earlier this year, i decided to start using it semi-regularly to reach out to old friends and distant relatives. I also made posts advertising some of my creative work and asked for feedback, but almost no one did. It stung, but I tried not to let it bother me too much. Lately, I also had this former coworker friend start making all these posts about her amazing new friends. Despite all the effort I made in being her friend, helping her when she needed it, lending a sympathetic ear when she broke up with her first bf, she no longer really talks to me anymore, and now she is posting all these photos with new friends all the time. I know it's normal for people to grow apart, but it triggered me so much. With all the friends and family I had on there that were there but didn't ever really talk to me felt like being alone in a crowded room---constantly. Why don't they talk to me? Why be passive and disconnected? Sure, you see my posts and you give it a like, but do you really care? Maybe social media and I just don't mix. I'm too much of an oddball for it I guess. And then there's the growing resentment I have against myself for being chronically online. I decided that I'm okay with moving on to the next stage of my personality evolution and becoming even more uncool for society. RIP My Instagram account (2014-2022)
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You sound a lot like me. Maybe you are an empath? Or very sensitive and thoughtful? If so, social media will wear you down. People are very passive, detached, and disconnected. I had hoped to create a more supportive and uplifting environment on my Instagram account. I wanted to be vulnerable and to connect with others. It was a major letdown. No engagement. No support. I had to start detaching because it brought me down. Now, I don't share personal things too often anymore. I keep my expectations very low in terms of people reaching out, engaging, or commenting. I realized that I had to turn to myself, my few close friends, and other things to make me feel good. I limit my time on social media now, and it's made a big difference. I know that I just don't fit in online anymore. I want something warmer, more personal, more thoughtful. I'm very glad I was able to detach, but it was a long process.
Social media is toxic and it doesn‘t accurately reflect reality anyway. Don’t beat yourself up for it. Getting rid of IG will do your mental health wonders