If you follow me on Instagram[1], then you might have seen that I’m no longer an active user (that terminology kinda makes me sound like an addict, doesn’t it?) of the platform. Yep, that’s right. I broke up with Instagram, which perhaps was an inevitability considering I split with Facebook nearly two years ago and Twitter not long after that. I guess social media and I were never meant to be, a realization I’m not at all upset about. Quite the contrary… I wish I had had this epiphany years ago!
The other day, as I was pondering whether to officially pull the proverbial plug on my Instagram account, I made like Rory Gilmore and made a pro/con list. Only my pro/con list was comprised solely of cons. Twelve of them to be exact, the first of which I’m going to write about today. My hope is that it might inspire those of you who may be on the fence about exiting Instagram or another social media platform to finally make that leap. And for those of you who currently have zero qualms with being an “active user,” my aim here is to encourage you to rethink your habits for the sake of your health, happiness, peace, and productivity.
The first reason I’ve left social media is one that’s fairly obvious, though still worth discussing because while it’s well known, I think many of us are desensitized to its deleterious effects. And that reason is:
Social Media is Teeming with Distractions
Social media is designed to be a place of connection, yes, but also of escape. And escape, by definition, means to “get away.” Mind you, I love a good getaway. Spending a quiet week or two at a cozy cabin in the mountains, for example, is my idea of a heavenly vacation. I love escaping into a delicious novel after everyone has gone to bed and the house is still and perfectly quiet, save for the nostalgia-rich sounds of crickets and katydids.
But these escapes occur at appropriate times. Instagram distractions occur, well, any time, especially if you’re a stay-at-home mom like me who can technically be on social media whenever she chooses without risking losing her job (my toddler rightly gets cranky when he sees Mommy’s giving the phone more attention than himself; sometimes I think he’d fire me if he could!). Instagram, with its addictive short-form videos, clever memes, and “must-watch” Live videos, lures me away from valuable activities, such as:
- precious play time with my toddler
- valuable writing time when our nanny is here or when my son is napping
- chores
- spending time reading the Word of God
- praying
- meditating
- stretching
- foam rolling sore muscles
- reading
- taking online courses
- organizing and decluttering
- writing content such as this, content that I pray helps and inspires others
From where I sit in my little south Texan corner of the world, I see social media increasingly becoming a sorry substitute for real life. The scary thing is, many people don’t see it as “sorry,” but rather as a “preferable” substitute. Their minds have essentially been reprogrammed to view digital interactions as superior to analog ones, and online amusements and rapid-fire news as more desirable than the richness of real-life, face-to-face discussions, outdoor recreation, and the ancient gifts of stillness, silence, and humble souls connecting with their Creator beneath an open sky.
I’ve been observing nature a lot more lately, particularly animals. A few weeks ago, I took my son to a barnyard petting zoo and was struck by the happiness that permeated the pleasantly odorous atmosphere. [2] Every animal, from the llamas and horses, to the sheep and single Vietnamese potbelly pig, was joyful. Granted, they were constantly being hand-fed by visitors, but nonetheless, these creatures clearly enjoyed the feeling of warm sun on their faces, the nonstop sounds of whinnying, mooing, quacking, and oinking, and the laughter of children as they ran back and forth, making fast friends with the lively livestock.
None of the animals appeared anxious that they didn’t have their cellphones nearby. None seemed to lack a single thing that might increase their happiness or add to their sense of fulfillment. They were doing what the good Lord created them to do, and because of that, they are content. They are whole. They are blissfully alert, present, and undistracted. I, for one, wish to be the same.
If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. – C. S. Lewis
[1] My account, @authordianatyler, is still enabled so people can find my contact info, but my app is deleted and I’ll only be logging in from my desktop if I ever have to edit links. At least that’s my plan ;-).
[2] I grew up with all manner of barnyard animals, so the smell of manure-filled stalls and filthy animals is actually pleasant to me.