Why I am quitting Social media

I have quit Instagram and Facebook, yes, even as an artist.

For a long time, I have struggled with sharing my creativity on social media while trying to monetize my art. I thought the issue was with me; I would spend ages searching for the magic solution to make it all click without feeling forced. It turns out, however, that the problem was Instagram. (I will explain more later.) The best choice for my mental health and business is to stop investing in Instagram and Facebook, personally and professionally. Here’s how it's going…

The battle of social media for me

Social media, especially Instagram, has been a constant battle for me (and many other creatives, it seems). I would spend days and even weeks trying to find a way to make social media work for me. Each time I would try to post, it felt uncomfortable, inauthentic, and forced, making it impossible to find a way to make it feel genuine. I have been doing art full-time for around two years, and during this time, I have never managed to be consistent with posting on social media or found a strategy that authentically works for me.

It was not just the uncomfortable feeling of inauthenticity; I would also get annoyed that I couldn't see the amazing art from the people I followed due to the frustrating algorithm. I often found myself stuck scrolling without even realizing it, which would completely demotivate me.

With all this in mind, I have decided to change the way I approach Instagram and Facebook. I will post only when I want to. I won’t spend hours trying to create the perfect reel or an eye-catching post. If I enjoy it, I’ll share it! One of the effects of Instagram for me was comparing myself to other artists, leading to feelings of inadequacy and a tendency to censor myself, which was frustrating and only added to the sense of Instagram being fake and uncomfortable.

Since deciding to step off the Instagram hamster wheel, I have often felt dread and fear. I was stuck in the belief that "you can't be an artist if you don't have Instagram” for so long that putting it aside felt worrisome. However, now that I have a content plan that shifts the focus away from Instagram, I feel much more comfortable. Additionally, it helped to discover that other artists felt the same way! If they can manage without it, so can I!

Other reasons I am stepping away from social media

Another reason I am stepping back from Instagram is that the content has become like “fast food.” You scroll endlessly, and what may have taken someone weeks to create is consumed in seconds. People produce beautiful, extraordinary pieces of artwork that are seen only briefly because they are ephemeral. This format almost diminishes the effort artists pour into their creations.

The noise and pressure of social media are overwhelming. As an introvert and a quiet autistic woman, I cherish my space and alone time; I need to recharge if I do socialise. You would think social media would be perfect for me! However, even for me, Instagram can feel overwhelming. The expectations and pressure are immense, and as soon as you open the app, you are bombarded with images, noise, and information that aims to keep you engaged and consuming rapidly.

Furthermore, social media is negatively affecting attention spans. For many people, staying focused is increasingly difficult. It's become hard to sit down and read a book without being tempted to scroll for that dopamine hit. I find myself guilty of feeling stressed and then thinking, "Oh, I'll just jump on Instagram for a bit," only to scroll mindlessly, consuming content that doesn’t benefit my mental health and creates unnecessary pressure, leading to feelings of inadequacy and burnout.

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