why i don’t use instagraM

For a crazy long time, ever since 2013, the immense pressure to be on Instagram has been nonstop. I had a few pages, I felt the pressure, caved into it, compared myself, and finally, after graduating design school, I QUIT…. Then I downloaded it again… Entered a pageant, gained followers… THEN QUIT AGAIN, OMG, why did I have so many Instagram pages? Because that was what everyone else had, and if you want anyone to see your artwork, you better have an Instagram. You tell me, is that where you found me? No, most likely not. I apologize to everyone that I shipped a QR code to from my previous Instagram page. I deleted that one as well. (Yikes). Well, here’s the thing. I love YouTube. I love YouTube Shorts, and there’s something about actual long-form content that feels right to me. Everyone has their social media of choice, and sometimes it isn’t always Instagram. There are many ways to show off your work.

Mental health is super important to me, and I’ve noticed with the continuous use of Instagram it was declining... Fast.

I know comparison is the thief of joy, but hear me out, it wasn’t just that. It’s overstimulating. The explore page is just a click away, and you're instantly bombarded with so much information, and with the lack of monitoring on the app now, information you didn’t exactly want to see… Regardless, the energy of Instagram to me feels very chaotic, ongoing, and manic. As someone who struggles with mental health, it is very easy for me to take in and internalize information and let it affect my day. An old friend of mine uses Instagram as his primary source to bring in clients, and it may have worked for him, but it doesn’t have to work for every small business owner. Sometimes it’s easier to just let people find you, you know? Not to mention posting on that app is like a full-time job, and I don’t know about you, but I love naps. Seriously.