Summary

The author describes a personal journey of transforming their relationship with Instagram from one of resentment and compulsive use to intentional and enjoyable engagement, emphasizing the importance of being in control of one's social media experience.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's shift from disliking Instagram due to its negative impact on mental health and fostering a fear of missing out (FOMO) to appreciating the platform for its ability to provide curated content and serve as a creative outlet. This change was inspired by a conversation with a friend who also took a break from Instagram, leading to improved daily life and more meaningful activities. The author reflects on the dual nature of technology, comparing it to a knife that can be used positively or negatively. They trace the evolution of Instagram from a photography-focused space to a more social and monetized platform following its acquisition by Facebook. The author advocates for personal responsibility in how one engages with social media, suggesting that users can tailor their experience to avoid negative aspects, such as FOMO, and instead focus on content that brings joy or inspiration. The narrative includes a personal account of the author's introspective period after experiencing significant life changes, during which they found solace in music, nature, and self-reflection, leading to a more intentional lifestyle and a healthier relationship with technology.

Opinions

The author believes that technology's impact on individuals is largely determined by how it is used, likening it to a knife that can create or destroy.
Instagram's shift towards prioritizing social interaction and monetization is seen as contributing to a more toxic online environment.
FOMO is identified as a significant drawback of social media use, particularly when one's feed is filled with friends' activities.
The author values the ability to curate one's social media feed to include content that is personally enriching or inspiring, such as podcasts, reading, or hobbies like photography.
A period of digital detox is considered beneficial for introspection and dealing with personal issues constructively, rather than escaping through aimless scrolling.
The author emphasizes the importance of personal agency in breaking the cycle of stress and unproductive social media use, advocating for a life lived by design, not by default.
The article suggests that taking control of one's social media habits can lead to a more empowering and enjoyable online experience.

To Stop Aimless Scrolling, Remember That You’re in Control

How I went from hating to loving Instagram. It’s a matter of use.

Photo of the author by Jessica Viqueira on King Arthur’s Seat.

I just caught up with my friend Jessica and had an intriguing conversation.

Before we get into that, Jessica and I met under pretty hilarious circumstances. I was climbing King Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh that day, and when I got to the top, I saw her wearing a green University of South Florida jacket. I knew I had to make conversation. How can a fellow Floridian ignore another fellow Floridian?

As always with our conversations, I learned a lot. She just did a detox of Instagram for the past couple of weeks and I was curious of how it went as I, too took off from the platform for a little while last year. She told me that her daily life is much better: instead of endlessly scrolling and having fear of missing out (FOMO) from what other people are up to, she learns a lot from listening to podcasts and reading.

Jessica’s story reminds me of a conversation that I had with my mother not too long ago — we can look at technology like a knife. You can either use it to make a delicious salad, or you can use it to stab someone else or yourself.

As extreme as the metaphor may sound, there’s a hint of truth to it. And it can be applied to pretty much anything.

It’s not that technology is inherently bad as it’s the way we use it.

Before Instagram was bought by Facebook, the platform had a more artisan than socializing ethos. It was known as a place where, no matter your photographic skills, thanks to Instagram’s editing features anyone can be a solid photographer. But when Instagram’s platform became more biased towards socializing, that’s when the toxicity of it initially became prevalent. In Facebook’s view, at least, even if FOMO is not good for individuals, at least it keeps users stuck on the platform so they can be monetized for more ad revenue.

Even considering the story of Instagram, though, it’s still up to us to decide how we use it.

For example, I love chocolate chip cookies and travel so I follow a decent amount of accounts that present both. Although my home feed is populated mainly with friends and acquaintances, my explore feed is only full of chocolate chip cookies and travel pictures. I also know that I get FOMO from the home feed so I consciously avoid it as much as possible.

At the same time, I do enjoy posting random things on Instagram. I went from hating Instagram because of FOMO to loving Instagram because of the content that I can create and distribute.

I often hear this technology question a lot — is it good or bad for society — pretty much everywhere: high school, college, news media, social media (ironic), etc. We need to be more nuanced than this if we want a better future.

When I left Washington because I lost my company and girlfriend, I went off the grid for almost two months.

There was a week where I had lost both of those things at once. It was a crazy time and I needed to get away from everybody. So I did: I deleted my Instagram and Facebook apps.

There’s not a worse time to use Instagram — when you mainly follow friends — than going through a rough time. You see what they’re doing with their lives and it pisses you off that your life isn’t theirs.

However, not being on Instagram over that period made me a more introspective person. Instead of beating myself up for not having a “cooler life” like the people I saw on my home feed, I used that free time to reflect on life and think about the bigger picture.

I would take walks in the park doing nothing but jam to music. I would look at the sky and connect with the nature around me and think about what just happened and how I could move forward.

When I lived in Washington, I was not nearly as reflective as I am today. In D.C. I would commute long commutes, work and feel more exhausted from that, and scroll on social platforms as I was too tired to deal with issues. But this wasn’t a healthy lifestyle at all. I didn’t handle problems hands-on as I do today, I would avert them by scrolling my way out of them.

I only imagine that this might apply to you, too: you use aimless scrolling as a way to avoid doing something else.

The worst part is the aftertaste of such an endeavor. You feel worse with yourself because you didn’t get as much done as you wanted to during the day. You didn’t write that blog because you were too stressed and busy. You didn’t read that book because you were too overwhelmed and anxious.

Then you go to bed and the cycle repeats: you wake up more stressed, you deal with that stress by avoiding it through aimless scrolling, and the stress only becomes worse because you didn’t get anything done. It’s a perpetually toxic cycle.

But it’s up to you to end it, and Jessica and I are better off because we’ve ended our nasty social media habits. If it weren’t for her taking the initiative to uninstall Instagram, she would’ve still been stuck in a cycle akin to mine. If I never quit Instagram for those two months when I did, I would’ve dealt with my problems the way that I had before: by avoiding them.

Now that I’m in control of my Instagram experience, I find the platform actually fun to use. I don’t feel anxious or stressed anymore. I don’t use it to deal with problems — I have walking and writing for that.

And the best part is I know that I’m in control. There’s nothing more empowering than being in control.

Are you living your life by default or design?

I chose the latter, and so should you.