Hi Emily. For me this post is a timely read. I have never ‘done’ Instagram - in fact I have always resisted social media, believing that it would suck me in and be too much of a distraction. What niggled at me though was the growing urge to share my other ‘hidden’ side - the one that writes rhymes and sketches illustrations in support of them. Then - by pure chance (or was it fate?) I happened upon a radio interview that championed a thing called Substack. And something chimed with me - maybe Substack was the home I had been looking for. Two months later and here I am, talking my first tentative steps, battling Imposter Syndrome and now four posts in and the fifth scheduled to drop tomorrow (Monday) lunchtime. I hope with all my being that - in time - I connect with like, creative minds in the way that you have. My finger and toes (and hell, everything else for that matter) are crossed. Your post has helped me to believe it might just be.
Well done! New beginnings are useful! I left insta 3-4 years ago, same with fb and whatsapp. When a company starts messing with your data it’s no longer cool, no matter what the interface and looks of it is. Let’s see to it we can stay here.
Oh yes, I feel you. It was such I nice place to be. I've met great friends out there, but in the end.. it didn't work out anymore. I quit instagram earlier this year and I don't miss it at all. I spend less hours on my phone, more hours reading (in books, and on substack). It feels much better now :-)
Read every line and felt so deeply connected to my own relationship with Instagram that I keep coming back to like a toxic relationship that doesn’t serve me in the same way it did years ago. Kudos to bravery in having such intentional boundaries.
Such a great post! I can so relate with your farewell letter. I have a personal account where I only follow a few people and which I still enjoy (most of the time), but since I started my little creative business / side-hustle I knew I don't really want to put much energy into Instagram and basically all other common social media as well. And still, I've set up an account, I tried to make it work (which didn't happen) and every time I log in, I feel like a bad artist (not painting all day, not successfully selling my art, not taking the most beautiful photos etc.). So over the past year I've searched for advice on how to get seen and be more successful as a creative online without this platform...and found out that anyone who says try x, y or z had been some sort of lucky on social media because they've been there for ages and then decided not to continue. Anyway, here I am, searching for my own way as a writer and painter, and most of all hoping to find some wonderful creatives too, as I've never connected truely to anyone on socials.
Feel all of this, well captured. I miss the connections I had on Instagram and all of the lovely people I learned from, but I just can’t be there anymore. I deleted my account last year.
Emily, I really enjoyed reading this ‘farewell to Instagram’, having left Instagram for a while, in the summer, removing all my artwork and taking a break from the constant urge to perform, churning out artwork for whoever would give me a like. Getting messages offering me NFTs for my artwork and a constant stream of adverts - I was enticed back. Being told that if I wanted to sell my art or get seen I really should be on Instagram. Sadly, nothing has changed, if anything it is harder to get seen - I think I’m due another break. I met some lovely people and for that I am grateful 🙏💜
I feel so much the same — this was so beautifully written, by the way. I am still there, still hanging on, but slowly letting go bit by bit. Substack has taught me so many things about the way I want to create, that are the complete opposite to Instagram. That I can pour my soul into a piece once a week instead of trying to show up every single day. That I can find kindred spirits and a community despite not being active here every day. To have people join me, spend time with me, and offer heartfelt and meaningful comments, instead of barely stopping in an endless scroll. I love it here more and more, and spend time there less and less. 🤍
You’ve just written down, so very eloquently and gently, all the bad feelings I’m having about Instagram! I too keep trying, I nip back and scroll and scroll and scroll but it all just feels so empty. And such hard work too… Absolutely yes to Substagram Sundays, that’s a gorgeous idea! ♥️🙏🏽xx
I 💯 agree. Over the last month or so I have grown increasingly weary of the entire 'social media hustle' schtick. There's so much negativity, even after curating my feed for more positive and life-giving accounts thanks to the algorithm thinking I somehow do not enjoy living under a rock. I signed up for Substack last week and am really liking what I'm seeing here. It feels like being back in the early 2000s when blogging was new and possibilities were wide open and endless, except this feels richer and more fulfilling.
This is both heartbreaking and lovely. I miss it too, even though I never felt like I fully unlocked the possibilities on Instagram? But I'm absolutely loving it here. I look forward to reading more from you about using Substack as a visual artist--I'm still figuring that part out too!
An absolutely charming farewell to the place that used to be fab, a creative inspiration.
I'm still hanging in there by the skin of my teeth - but I'm not sure why?
Maybe, it is time to make Substack into our own IG, as you suggest.
I'm in! Let's do it!
Hi Emily. For me this post is a timely read. I have never ‘done’ Instagram - in fact I have always resisted social media, believing that it would suck me in and be too much of a distraction. What niggled at me though was the growing urge to share my other ‘hidden’ side - the one that writes rhymes and sketches illustrations in support of them. Then - by pure chance (or was it fate?) I happened upon a radio interview that championed a thing called Substack. And something chimed with me - maybe Substack was the home I had been looking for. Two months later and here I am, talking my first tentative steps, battling Imposter Syndrome and now four posts in and the fifth scheduled to drop tomorrow (Monday) lunchtime. I hope with all my being that - in time - I connect with like, creative minds in the way that you have. My finger and toes (and hell, everything else for that matter) are crossed. Your post has helped me to believe it might just be.
Well done! New beginnings are useful! I left insta 3-4 years ago, same with fb and whatsapp. When a company starts messing with your data it’s no longer cool, no matter what the interface and looks of it is. Let’s see to it we can stay here.
I LOVE your post! Beyond the sharing of your words, it's just visually pleasing to the eyes. 🥰
Oh yes, I feel you. It was such I nice place to be. I've met great friends out there, but in the end.. it didn't work out anymore. I quit instagram earlier this year and I don't miss it at all. I spend less hours on my phone, more hours reading (in books, and on substack). It feels much better now :-)
Read every line and felt so deeply connected to my own relationship with Instagram that I keep coming back to like a toxic relationship that doesn’t serve me in the same way it did years ago. Kudos to bravery in having such intentional boundaries.
Such a great post! I can so relate with your farewell letter. I have a personal account where I only follow a few people and which I still enjoy (most of the time), but since I started my little creative business / side-hustle I knew I don't really want to put much energy into Instagram and basically all other common social media as well. And still, I've set up an account, I tried to make it work (which didn't happen) and every time I log in, I feel like a bad artist (not painting all day, not successfully selling my art, not taking the most beautiful photos etc.). So over the past year I've searched for advice on how to get seen and be more successful as a creative online without this platform...and found out that anyone who says try x, y or z had been some sort of lucky on social media because they've been there for ages and then decided not to continue. Anyway, here I am, searching for my own way as a writer and painter, and most of all hoping to find some wonderful creatives too, as I've never connected truely to anyone on socials.
Feel all of this, well captured. I miss the connections I had on Instagram and all of the lovely people I learned from, but I just can’t be there anymore. I deleted my account last year.
Emily, I really enjoyed reading this ‘farewell to Instagram’, having left Instagram for a while, in the summer, removing all my artwork and taking a break from the constant urge to perform, churning out artwork for whoever would give me a like. Getting messages offering me NFTs for my artwork and a constant stream of adverts - I was enticed back. Being told that if I wanted to sell my art or get seen I really should be on Instagram. Sadly, nothing has changed, if anything it is harder to get seen - I think I’m due another break. I met some lovely people and for that I am grateful 🙏💜
I feel so much the same — this was so beautifully written, by the way. I am still there, still hanging on, but slowly letting go bit by bit. Substack has taught me so many things about the way I want to create, that are the complete opposite to Instagram. That I can pour my soul into a piece once a week instead of trying to show up every single day. That I can find kindred spirits and a community despite not being active here every day. To have people join me, spend time with me, and offer heartfelt and meaningful comments, instead of barely stopping in an endless scroll. I love it here more and more, and spend time there less and less. 🤍
You’ve just written down, so very eloquently and gently, all the bad feelings I’m having about Instagram! I too keep trying, I nip back and scroll and scroll and scroll but it all just feels so empty. And such hard work too… Absolutely yes to Substagram Sundays, that’s a gorgeous idea! ♥️🙏🏽xx
I 💯 agree. Over the last month or so I have grown increasingly weary of the entire 'social media hustle' schtick. There's so much negativity, even after curating my feed for more positive and life-giving accounts thanks to the algorithm thinking I somehow do not enjoy living under a rock. I signed up for Substack last week and am really liking what I'm seeing here. It feels like being back in the early 2000s when blogging was new and possibilities were wide open and endless, except this feels richer and more fulfilling.
This is both heartbreaking and lovely. I miss it too, even though I never felt like I fully unlocked the possibilities on Instagram? But I'm absolutely loving it here. I look forward to reading more from you about using Substack as a visual artist--I'm still figuring that part out too!
Ewf. AMEN to all THIS. I really do miss it. Sigh.
This broke my heart but resonated so deeply. Instant “subscribe” after reading.
Oh I feel this so deeply! I mourn what it used to be but I have moved on. Its the only way.