Such a great piece Maeve! So much to think about. I really struggle with Insta too, and if I didn’t feel I needed it for work I would be on it less. But do I really need it for work? Social media apps really convince us they’re essential but how essential are they? See you in the new year - I have to make it to another Silent Bookclub xx
Aoife, I think you do a great job of balancing your work and personal posts on IG. Yours will be one I really miss and I totally understand how you need it for work. I think if I were trying to do freelance work like I was a few years ago, there would be no choice but to stay on IG. When I left Twitter, for example, so many speaking opportunities and engagements dried up. But in a way it was good for my ego too!! Maybe making our own websites interactive / a nice place to be is a way to get off socials.. I'm thinking of how musicians and writers had 'lounges' on their websites and personal blogs to bring people back. Also very inspired by James Blake and his attempts to leave ticketmaster through his newsletter. But at the same time, these folks already have followings so how do you move off social platforms if you are still building? It's a catch 22! Really hope to see you at SBC some time in the new year! <3
I really resonate with how you’ve observed the difference between how IG nudges us to interact with people/causes we care about, and how we actually *want* to build relationships. I’ll follow your lead in prioritising offline communication. I’m not strong enough to leave IG totally behind…not yet anyway
Great piece Maeve. Instagram is the last social media I have left (trying to spend more time on Substack instead!). Every month I have an internal battle around deleting insta - for many reasons, but lately it’s because there is just so, SO much content in the world and my brain is getting increasingly exhausted of consuming it all every single day to the point that none of it has any value whatsoever… Maybe I’ll be brave enough to follow your lead in 2025!
Thanks so much for reading Rachel. I am the exact same - IG is my last social media platform too. But even the deluge of posts over Christmas have made me all the more sure of my decision! The worry is - how do we connect and keep in touch? But we did this before social media and I hope to do it again! Which means we need to get a cuppa in real life in 2025 I'm afraid!! :)
Such a great piece Maeve! So much to think about. I really struggle with Insta too, and if I didn’t feel I needed it for work I would be on it less. But do I really need it for work? Social media apps really convince us they’re essential but how essential are they? See you in the new year - I have to make it to another Silent Bookclub xx
Aoife, I think you do a great job of balancing your work and personal posts on IG. Yours will be one I really miss and I totally understand how you need it for work. I think if I were trying to do freelance work like I was a few years ago, there would be no choice but to stay on IG. When I left Twitter, for example, so many speaking opportunities and engagements dried up. But in a way it was good for my ego too!! Maybe making our own websites interactive / a nice place to be is a way to get off socials.. I'm thinking of how musicians and writers had 'lounges' on their websites and personal blogs to bring people back. Also very inspired by James Blake and his attempts to leave ticketmaster through his newsletter. But at the same time, these folks already have followings so how do you move off social platforms if you are still building? It's a catch 22! Really hope to see you at SBC some time in the new year! <3
I really resonate with how you’ve observed the difference between how IG nudges us to interact with people/causes we care about, and how we actually *want* to build relationships. I’ll follow your lead in prioritising offline communication. I’m not strong enough to leave IG totally behind…not yet anyway
We who are about to die on Instagram, salute you. ✋
Great piece Maeve. Instagram is the last social media I have left (trying to spend more time on Substack instead!). Every month I have an internal battle around deleting insta - for many reasons, but lately it’s because there is just so, SO much content in the world and my brain is getting increasingly exhausted of consuming it all every single day to the point that none of it has any value whatsoever… Maybe I’ll be brave enough to follow your lead in 2025!
Thanks so much for reading Rachel. I am the exact same - IG is my last social media platform too. But even the deluge of posts over Christmas have made me all the more sure of my decision! The worry is - how do we connect and keep in touch? But we did this before social media and I hope to do it again! Which means we need to get a cuppa in real life in 2025 I'm afraid!! :)