Instagram has been getting a lot of heat lately. Between their lack of encouragement in the #FreeTheNipple campaign and self-proclaimed Insta-stars coming forward about the tribulations of keeping up unrealistic appearances, the social media platform is on the scene more than ever.
When I heard about Essena O’Neill, the Aussie Instagram celebrity who revealed the actions necessary behind her seemingly perfect life in photos, I thought about the time I took to capture the most ideal moments for my feed. On average, I would take up to fifteen photos of the same thing to be able to choose the best one, then spend about ten minutes editing it with different filters and apps for the exact look I wish the moment had had.
At a Sunday brunch with friends, I realized we were all focused on our screens, intently choosing, zooming, smudging, and retouching photos that could potentially be “Insta-worthy.” Having a conversation was practically out of the picture.
It seems like such a waste. Living in the moment has been left at the wayside with social media standards on the rise. How can you enjoy a genuine moment when your aesthetic is at stake? It was time for a change, so I decided to give up Instagram for a week. Here are my observations sans the iPhone camera.
Addiction
Social media is an addiction. There’s a reason why most applications use white and blue color schemes. The visual affect draws users in and heightens the desire to keep looking. I’m sure plenty of you have heard your professors calling you zombies or phone drones, but perhaps it’s time to listen.
On the first day of my Instagram-less life, I felt a constant pang of desire to check my phone. Don’t get me wrong, I am not glued to my iPhone every minute of every day, but being aware of my task to avoid Instagram just made me want to three times more than usual. By the second day, I was hankering to take a sneaky little peak at my feed or start editing a great #foodporn pic of my phenomenal mango salad. I had to keep my phone tucked away in the bottom pocket of my bag to resist.
Resolve
They say it takes three days to kick a small habit, and I agree that I had lost interest in the app by the third day. After passing 48 hours of Insta-free bliss and enjoying my life without the pressure of taking a photo to prove my happiness to others, I no longer wanted the temptation.
This experiment had a lasting affect on me. Not only did I fulfill my weeklong goal to abstain from Instagram; it took a full month for me to get back on the Insta-train. Besides a few scrolling incidences here and there, I got back in the game for my personal account when it was time to promote a charity event at my school. Since that initial post, I have Instagrammed twice in three weeks.
Consequences
This experiment was exactly what I needed to detox from the social media craze, but it certainly inflicted some problems on my duties for multiple magazines and organizations. As a freelancer for communications, I rely on social media to publicize products, partners, and upcoming events. I had to ask a friend to act as the admin for two accounts I usually run which have weekly post requirements.
Besides the professional impediments, my personal following fell greatly. After the week was up, my number of followers had miraculously fallen from 756 to 723. Now that more than a month has passed since my posting-habit transformation, I am down to 703 followers. It seems bizarre, but I never truly realized how many people were looking at my photos or how often they appeared in people’s feeds. What a reminder to be careful about what you post, am I right?
Peace of Mind
Walking through daily tasks is monotonous as it is without adding a set of obligatory Instagram shots to the routine. Without having the virtual world on my mind, I paid twice as much attention to the people and spaces around me. It is liberating to take a break from your phone.
Even if it means simply eliminating one or two apps from your perusal agenda, do it. You’ll feel more attentive, seem to have extra time in the day, and be able to immerse yourself in your activities without breaking focus to check for notifications.
Takeaways:
-Live in the moment. Memories last longer than photos if you actually pay attention to the world around you.
-Do what you’re doing because you genuinely enjoy it. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone else.
-Don’t feel pressured to put on an act for others. Your life is beautiful and interesting just the way it is.
-When you appreciate the world around you, the world around you shows its appreciation. Engage with strangers, be curious, and take in your environment.
-A picture may be worth a thousand words, but I’d take a thousand words face to face in a vivacious conversation over a million likes on a photo any