I recently watched The Social Dilemma on Netflix, an exposé on the big tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Instagram, highlighting all of the negative impacts that social media has had on society. One of the main points was how the users’ data and attention are the products that social media companies sell to advertisers. If you’d like to learn more about real-time ad buying, read this article on programmatic advertising on social media from AudienceX.
The documentary made me think about my relationship with social media. My parents wouldn’t let me make social media accounts until my junior year of high school, so I didn’t get a Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram until 2014, which is why you won’t find too many embarrassing photos from middle school (thank goodness). Since then, I’ve used social media to started my photography business, make new friends, and discovered new restaurants, parks, pop-up museums, and other places to go. I’ve had more good than bad come from social media and I’m grateful for everything it has done for me.
Unfortunately, over the years, Instagram has become a source of stress and dissatisfaction for many people. I’ve listened to the How I Built This podcast episode with Instagram’s co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and it’s insane to see how much the app has changed from its original purpose of simply sharing photos with filters on them. Now, it’s a billion-dollar business. But in growing, it’s clear that Instagram has some pretty negative aspects.
Have you ever…
- spent more than an hour scrolling through your feed?
- compared your life to a friend or a stranger’s life?
- decided not to post because there’s too much pressure to pick the right photo or video?
Well, same. Here are 8 tips I’ve used to improve my experience on Instagram and get the best out of the app!
*These tips are intended to help people who have a personal Instagram account and use it just for fun. If you have a business that relies on high Instagram activity and interaction, then some of these suggestions won’t apply to you.
WAIT. Even before step 1, turn off your Instagram notifications!! No sounds, banners, badges, nothing! I don’t know anyone who has their notifications on anymore, but if for some reason you do, turning them off is like a breath of fresh air. Because you’ll be outside, not looking at your phone every 10 mins when your phone buzzes. This is the oldest trick in the book, so I’m not even counting it as a tip.
1. Curate your Instagram feed to be more like Pinterest
Why do you go on Pinterest? To be inspired, to learn something new, to find a new lockscreen image. Find and follow accounts on Instagram that help you do this too. Graphic designers, photographers, food bloggers, poets, DIY queens. Create a feel-good feed, a comfortable and creative place. If you spend a lot of time on Instagram, at least you’ll be seeing positive content. Some of my favorite accounts are @ratedmodernart, @atticusxo, @thedelicious, @jesswandering, @curiocityseattle, @wearenotreallystrangers, and @artsyaffirmations. Just make sure that once you follow these accounts, you stick by tip #2.
2. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself/life in any way
I’m not just talking about celebrities and models who wear a size 0. I’m talking about that friend of a friend who makes you feel #foreveralone because they’re already married and are living the life you want. News outlets that post overwhelming and depressing stories. You can be informed without seeing that negativity on Instagram. That person you originally followed because they have your dream job but they just make you feel like a failure because they’re always posting about their career successes. Those healthy food accounts that discourage you because your plate doesn’t look like theirs. Influencers traveling the world, making you feel bored with your life. All the fashion bloggers who go to NYFW and have all those clothes you can’t afford. Be like Marie Kondo and ask yourself, does this content spark joy? If not, just unfollow or mute them. Chances are you’re following so many other accounts, you won’t even miss their content. If you don’t want to unfollow them, consider just muting their account for a while.
3. Post for yourself
Before I post, I ask myself why I’m posting. I’m a photographer, so do I genuinely love the photo? Do I just want to share the memory with my friends and followers? Am I proud of my editing? Will this help or provide value to other people? To me, all of these are valid reasons. If you’re just posting to get a lot of likes, what happens if you don’t get those likes? Will that change how you feel about your content? It’s taken years, but I’ve learned to not place value on the number of double taps. I don’t post “filler” photos if I don’t have anything new to post. I post for myself, things that I would be happy just sharing with my 10 closest friends.
4. Have a second passion project account
Your Instagram is a highlight reel, so you only want to post those perfect pics. But we don’t spend $15 on specialty coffee and a croissant at a cute cafe every morning or stare out at the distance from our infinity pools every evening for golden hour. Our lives are more than what we post on our main Instagram accounts and we have more interests than taking carefully composed mirror selfies. A second Instagram account allows you more freedom to follow as many accounts as you want without caring about the ratio (you know what I’m talking about), express yourself, and post less polished content. I’m not saying you should make a “finsta,” because once something’s on the internet, it’s basically out there forever. Just have a second account where you can post about other things you’re passionate about, like cooking or graphic design or music or makeup or your dog…anything that you can just have fun with and lets you use Instagram the way it was originally made for. I love trying new restaurants so my second account is a food account where I share photos that I took with my iPhone 6. It’s a lot of fun for me to look back at all the restaurants I’ve tried, and I don’t care if I post at 2am or if I get 2 likes. Most people don’t even know that I have a second account since I don’t promote it, because I don’t want the pressure to post. Separately, I also have a third account where I only follow dog accounts and it might be the best thing I’ve done for myself.
5. Support your friends!
It costs $0 and 2 seconds for me to engage with a friend’s post or reply to their story with an encouraging message. I want to try my best to make a welcoming environment on Instagram, and it takes very little effort. I want to be supportive of other people and set an example of how we can make this an empowering and positive platform, because it can be that way. Some of my favorite friends’ passion project accounts are @soul.chats, @cookingwithkyra, and @bougie.bathrooms.
6. Don’t use DMs to have conversations
We’re already spending too much time on the app, we know this. If you want to talk to your friend about something, don’t DM them unless you’re sharing a post with them. Making plans to hang out and everything else should be done via text or phone call.
7. Avoid the shopping tab
Not going to lie, I’ve definitely purchased something I saw on an Instagram ad and yes I’ve been influenced by influencers promoting products. But we cannot let Instagram become the next Target! I use Instagram every day and I cannot go on for my morning scroll and purchase a candle, a sweater, and a water bottle. The shopping tab is dangerous for your wallet and I would suggest not taking the risk, just don’t click on it. Using it will just show Instagram that the expansion into e-commerce was a good idea. Also, Instagram takes a selling fee from companies that sell their products on Instagram Shopping, so it’s probably best to shop directly on the company’s website.
8. Relocate your Instagram app
Another way to spend less time on Instagram is to move it off the first page of apps on your phone so you’re not constantly tempted to go on it. You can do this with all of your other social media apps if you want as well. Replace them with your Kindle app, Headspace, Duolingo, or whatever you’d rather be spending your time on.
Hope these tips have helped! If you have any other advice on how to have a better experience on Instagram, please let me know in the comments below!
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I just saw Social Dilemma and agree with so many of these tips!
I recently saw the Social Dilemma too and had your identical reaction. Thank you for sharing this content. We should all pay more attention to our relationship with social media
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Social media is definitely what you make of it! I try to see the positive side of it and use it for good!