Why I'm quitting Instagram (Yes, even as an artist)

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Reason nr. 1: It makes me feel shitty
02:38 - Reason nr. 2: It's not worth all the work
05:07 - Reason nr. 3: I refuse to "perform" for the Instagram algorithm
07:02 - Our shrinking attention spans
07:57 - Elder millenial rant about TikTok and Reels...
10:14 - YouTube vs. Instagram for artists
15:33 - Reason nr. 4: I'm not a fan of Facebook
17:08 - My fears around leaving Instagram
18:16 - My plans going forward + my thoughts on the future of social media
19:48 - Some recommended books and resources

MENTIONED

Books:
Jaron Lanier - Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now
Jaron Lanier - You Are Not A Gadget
Cal Newport - Deep Work
Cal Newport - Digital Minimalism
Franklin Foer - World Without Mind
Matthew Crawford - The World Beyond Your Head

YouTube videos:

Additional recommended resources:

ABOUT

Hi, I’m Louise: an artist, writer & creative solopreneur from Sweden. As a multi-passionate creative, I have spent my entire adult life avoiding traditional employment and instead making a living off of my art.
On this channel, I talk about everything I've learned along the way: About art making, creativity, mental health, and making a living as a creative. Dealing with perfectionism, fears, and overwhelm. Staying sane and productive among stress and distractions. And much more.

LEARN WITH ME

Portrait Drawing for Beginners -

SHOP MY ART

MUSIC

All music is from Epidemic Sound.

[christophsauer]

how is your actual state with social medias now two years after posting this video? I would love to hear.

[stephenschildbach]

To add an over 50 artist perspective. In the 90s I had to send out 1 postcard a month to potential clients and patrons, and advertise in one illustration book over the course of a year. And, that was enough marketing for me to make a full time living as an illustrator and artist. I'd only have to spend $3, 000 a year on this marketing (postcards, mailing, and the book) to support my annual salary. This would only take me about 20-40 hours of my time for the whole year! Now, artists are spending this much time in one month on social media, and this time spent on Instagram returns little to no work. I would gladly go back to that old model if it still worked. It was fun mailing postcards, and people would get a little piece of art.

[JessiTheBestiGaming]

I'm 33, and I used to constantly read books as a kid and teenager. I can't anymore.. I can read maybe a chapter and then I'm bored. Which is so sad, because I love reading. Even creating art now seems harder in relation to attention span. I hate Instagram too, and will only allow myself maybe three minutes a day to check my messages or whatever. It's super impersonal, and I'm not going to jump through freaking hoops to get likes.

[NatashaNewtonArt]

Describing an Instagram reel as "a fart in the wind" is the most accurate description of these I've ever heard! This is a really interesting video and I agree with many of the points you have so articulately made.

[KJensenStudio]

'A race to the bottom' perfectly describes not only Instagram, but the last three years of the World. ❤️

[nilotpalneogy]

It takes me 60-70 hours to finish an artwork. And Instagram has attention span down to a few seconds now. Its time to quit. I agree with you, my attention span has decreased. I used to watch movies that were meaningful and had plots and stories. Now, I tend to fast forward things so much. Often sitting at the movie theater I felt the need for a fast forward button. I have a day job, and I feel constantly stressed out. I cant concentrate there as well.

[jazzy]

Don't think just because you are older this is happening to you, I'm 23 and I hate what media have become. Especially as an artist, this is extremely exhausting to me. I wish Instagram didn't become this way.

[Valandor_Celestial_Warlock]

I'm 56 years old. Social media is a very new thing for me and my generation. For the vast majority of our lives, we didn't have anything like this and neither did we suspect that we would ever have to be subjected to such a thing. It's been foisted upon us and I think that it's something that we should reject out-of-hand as we have seen how it has horribly adversely affected younger people (and the entire species in general). I have a 16 year old son who is absolutely addicted to social media, hopelessly so. He would react violently if I even suggested taking his phone away from him even for a few minutes. Did I allow this to happen? No. Some things, believe it or not, even as a diligent and loving parent, are out of my control. I feel bad for him because he'll never know life without it as I have. I hate Instagram. It is the epitome of egoism and vanity. Facebook is boring, stupid, and filled with ads and malicious cowards who feel empowered to bully and berate total strangers at their whim. TikTok only proves that any idiot with a cellphone can prove that they're an idiot to the entire planet in 30 seconds or less. Social media is a time-killer, which is probably the most salient point. When you're on SM, you are literally throwing your precious time away. Addiction is an illness, like a mental illness. If we thought the world was crazy before the 21st century, guess what: Here we are now and, with the state of current events, I don't think there's any doubt now. The world is an insane asylum and the inmates are running it.

[MarginallyAna]

For a while, Instagram was really fun for me. I think it changed when the platform started truly shifting from a place where people would share a bit of their lives and a bit of their hobbies and art... into a business and influencer playing field. Now, I'm seriously thinking of quitting as well, for the 3rd time in as many years. The worst of it all, for me, is how it gets you hooked on the instant gratification of having engagement, and how crappy you feel after it's taken away! I don't want to feel like that anymore, and I'm not sure if it's possible to continue using it without having those feelings. Anyway, thank you for your wonderful video - it's really given me a lot to think about - and as an millennial introvert into slow living, low consumerism, mental health and who misses LiveJournal and the sense of community you got in older blogging platforms, I'm 100% into bringing back the RSS feed!

[rayne]

I stopped posting artwork years ago and I don't post on Instagram. I have specific people I follow and I go directly to them to see what they are up to. They are all artists and I can see their newest work this way without the bs. I don't have FB, Tic Tok, Twitter or any other social media. Social media is mostly trash and I only go look at Instagram to see the artists I like about every two months or so. I don't have any use for it otherwise.

[EulogyfortheAngels]

Social media more or less compartmentalizes the fears and frequent mental content of depression (better artists, more active workers, more compassionate people, more charismatic people, people having the times of their lives, etc) into carefully segmented visual information. I think that's the most simplified way I can posit how it affects me.

[bria]

I needed this video, I've hated instagram for so long, since I started posting on there a year ago, I joined the platform to grow so one day I would be able to do art as a living but honestly, it hasn't gotten me anywhere and I doubt it will, at least in the near future. So yeah, I'm gonna quit, maybe I'll come back someday but especially since my life lately has been incredibly chaotic I need a break.

[KelseyRodriguez]

Aw, thank you so much for the shoutout! I also identify as a long-form content type of person, it just feels so much more rewarding to post on here rather than on IG. I'm so so glad I was able to resonate with you and that you've started this channel! Your content looks great, and you're really well spoken! Can't wait to see what happens with your channel <3

[heatherhoepsintuitiveart]

I am an artist and I left social media at the end of last year. Instagram was starting to burn me out and make me very unhappy and stressed. It was the best decision to let go and I will not return. In the future I am contemplating going back to blogging...for now I am taking a long break to re-align and refocus for my journey ahead. thank you for this video!

[gigiartstudiowithartistvir]

I feel you on every one of these points. I have well over 1k posts and I have earned about 300.00 from commission work off Instagram and it wasn't even strangers who bought but people I know in real life. So IG is a lousy business option for the artist who is barely able to buy art supplies, and spins their wheels trying to build an organic engaged audience, unless you are already very well known.

[notavictim]

“I’m not a short form kind of person.” This was so encouraging to me. Lately I’ve been feeling kind of lost. I have built my life around keeping a job I don’t love but allows me freedom to create. I even decided not to go to college because I knew I wanted to spend as much of my energy being creative as possible and didn’t want the debt. This week i wrote three essays that I’m super proud of but it sometimes feels like they go unnoticed

Anyway this really spoke to me. Also, I’m in the process of creating an app which is built around long form conversions. It’s structures conversions like a game. Basically clubhouse meets Wordle. When it’s finished, I’m gonna reach out to you and if you like it, maybe I could sponsor a video! I know your channel isn’t huge but i want to partner with intentional, creative people 😊

Ok that was a lot. 😂

[KY-lskp]

IG made me question my art, my time and my effort. I know I am not the best artist out there but my art is my creation and questioning your creation in a negative light is not at all helpful especially to someone who is introverted and inclined to experience mental highs and lows. I don't particularly want to subject myself to more stress, your video is a perfect explanation as to how I am feeling so thank you for this 🌼

[ScottHebert]

yeah dude I quit last year, i didn't make a big deal about it I just closed all my accounts. I didn't think it was going to be permanent but it is. I've sold the most art I've done so far by just being on YouTube, the long form content allows people to fall in love with you more in my opinion.

[grnorthernpike]

I am three weeks away from being 78…and finding your channel has been most fortuitous. Many blessings to you with much appreciation for your efforts, and thank you for your honesty and authenticity

[gigiartstudiowithartistvir]

Also, I'm very concerned for the art world which is a whole new subject on it's own.