Why I permanently deleted instagram

I permanently deleted my Instagram account after 12 years of activity.

I was addicted to Instagram and was spending a lot of my day to day moments living for photo opportunities. Posting photos was a way for me to receive external validation. To some extent, I felt I was living an inauthentic life being dictated by a "Instagram mindset". I realised that I was caught up in the cycle of posting, seeking validation, and comparing myself to others. Unfortunately, this made me feel disconnected to the experiences I was having. I began to question "Am I living my life to please others?".

I attempted to minimise my usage through time restrictions and taking periods away from the app by deleting it from my phone. But it just didn't work and I still had this Instagram mindset hovering over me which ultimately led me to delete the app in April 2024. I was curious about what life was like without it. I felt so free once I had made this decision, taking back my life experiences where I could start to be fully present without feeling this urge to take pictures to post on Instagram.


I do not want to demonise Instagram and appreciate that it has positives. Personally, the negatives started to out weight the positives for me. The decision to delete Instagram should always be a personal one. If you're considering it, carefully weigh the positives and negatives based on your own experiences and priorities. Social media can be a good thing but we just need to mindful of how it impacts our lives.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 It has been 9 months since I have deleted Instagram after having it for 12 years
0:47 the seed of realising that I maybe addicted to Instagram
3:05 the epiphany
4:10 the questions of my self worth
4:42 living my life for photo opportunities
5:16 I tried to manage it
5:54 finally permanently deleting Instagram
6:28 new beginning
7:14 I do not want to demonise it
7:57 there are other ways to stay connected
9:35 its a good conversation to have