relate to this so much and thanks for sharing! i quit being a “brand” on IG two ish years ago, and december marks a year being off IG for me. it feels very, very good. excited for you!
Proud of you, and absolutely relate on how the relationship to social media is similar to the cycle with drugs and alcohol. And lately the amount of performative posting, basically people making a “reality” show of their lives is making me sick. Especially people who are exploiting their children. I saw a person offering a master class on how to cope with a cheating husband! WHAT? I am burnt out too, and I’m starting school in the summer to become a nurse (focusing on pregnancy/birth/lactation) and holy SHIT it feels amazing to know I could just slip into obscurity forever 🫠
Thank you, Britton. The content wheel continues to turn, and the part of me that adores humans is always impressed by what we come up with, but I have a similar revulsion to much of it and can no longer tolerate the doses that IG provides.
I am SO excited for you on this journey to become a nurse! Many of my cousins are nurses and they work hard but find it so rewarding. I am not sure if I'm headed towards a more traditional career at some point, but I really resonate with that feeling of like...I could be unknowable! It scares me too though after so many years of being extremely online.
I deleted the instagram app from my phone this summer and it has been glorious. My overall happiness has grown, my nervous system is calmer, I’m so glad I did it. Still figuring out which other avenues feel best for me both socially and professionally, but it has been really worth it! I may engage with it lightly again in the future, but I plan to never keep the app on my phone permanently again.
Ah yes! Getting rid of the app is HUGE. Truly wild how different it feels in-browser. I'm so happy to read that you're feeling calmer and happier. I ultimately am not great at moderation and have found that I need strong measures generally, but I am very hopeful for you as you navigate how you want to use it.
I quit posting on IG, at least in the feed. It’s not a place that makes me feel good to consume or publish business content (or even most personal content besides pet memes). It wasn’t growing my audience because I jumped in too late. I’m instead shifting to other social media like LinkedIn, participating in communities (like this one!), and investing in writing and YouTube for teaching versus hot takes.
Yes yes yes. Even as someone who has been there for over a decade (YIKES) audience growth really stagnated. I actually think it's quite a bit worse for B2B now than for B2C; reminds me of maybe 2018 or 2019 when B2B clients started leaving Facebook. How are you liking LinkedIn? I post there on occasion but can't quite commit.
I feel like there are more conversations on LinkedIn. Still a lot of hustle bro, creator economy aspirational stuff, but less IG manifestation, easy money grift. And it’s text based so easier on the nervous system to create. Still highly performative but less impactful on me.
Ok cool! That's great to hear. IG used to be full of convos for me, and now so little of that. And love to hear that it's easier on the nervous system for you.
Thank you, Laura. I was not quite clear on what has been going on until the experience I describe in this episode, but now am making sure that I am taking good care and getting lots of good support from those around me. Also, I just appreciate the outside reflection of this: my own mind is very swift to judge and say I'm just being a baby!
relate to this so much and thanks for sharing! i quit being a “brand” on IG two ish years ago, and december marks a year being off IG for me. it feels very, very good. excited for you!
Thanks, Eryn! I LOVE that you've been off for so long and am glad to hear that it feels good for you. I'm excited and relieved.
Proud of you, and absolutely relate on how the relationship to social media is similar to the cycle with drugs and alcohol. And lately the amount of performative posting, basically people making a “reality” show of their lives is making me sick. Especially people who are exploiting their children. I saw a person offering a master class on how to cope with a cheating husband! WHAT? I am burnt out too, and I’m starting school in the summer to become a nurse (focusing on pregnancy/birth/lactation) and holy SHIT it feels amazing to know I could just slip into obscurity forever 🫠
Thank you, Britton. The content wheel continues to turn, and the part of me that adores humans is always impressed by what we come up with, but I have a similar revulsion to much of it and can no longer tolerate the doses that IG provides.
I am SO excited for you on this journey to become a nurse! Many of my cousins are nurses and they work hard but find it so rewarding. I am not sure if I'm headed towards a more traditional career at some point, but I really resonate with that feeling of like...I could be unknowable! It scares me too though after so many years of being extremely online.
I deleted the instagram app from my phone this summer and it has been glorious. My overall happiness has grown, my nervous system is calmer, I’m so glad I did it. Still figuring out which other avenues feel best for me both socially and professionally, but it has been really worth it! I may engage with it lightly again in the future, but I plan to never keep the app on my phone permanently again.
Ah yes! Getting rid of the app is HUGE. Truly wild how different it feels in-browser. I'm so happy to read that you're feeling calmer and happier. I ultimately am not great at moderation and have found that I need strong measures generally, but I am very hopeful for you as you navigate how you want to use it.
I quit posting on IG, at least in the feed. It’s not a place that makes me feel good to consume or publish business content (or even most personal content besides pet memes). It wasn’t growing my audience because I jumped in too late. I’m instead shifting to other social media like LinkedIn, participating in communities (like this one!), and investing in writing and YouTube for teaching versus hot takes.
Yes yes yes. Even as someone who has been there for over a decade (YIKES) audience growth really stagnated. I actually think it's quite a bit worse for B2B now than for B2C; reminds me of maybe 2018 or 2019 when B2B clients started leaving Facebook. How are you liking LinkedIn? I post there on occasion but can't quite commit.
I feel like there are more conversations on LinkedIn. Still a lot of hustle bro, creator economy aspirational stuff, but less IG manifestation, easy money grift. And it’s text based so easier on the nervous system to create. Still highly performative but less impactful on me.
Ok cool! That's great to hear. IG used to be full of convos for me, and now so little of that. And love to hear that it's easier on the nervous system for you.
Thank you, Laura. I was not quite clear on what has been going on until the experience I describe in this episode, but now am making sure that I am taking good care and getting lots of good support from those around me. Also, I just appreciate the outside reflection of this: my own mind is very swift to judge and say I'm just being a baby!