Why I’m Moving Away from Instagram & Switching to a Personal Website
I’ve been pretty quiet these days on Instagram. My aversion to the platform started roughly two years ago. Looking back, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what caused this shift. In this post, I will break down the reasons why I’m no longer a fan of Instagram and convey my argument for making the move to a personal website. For context, let’s have a quick look at my Instagram journey, how it all started, and where I’m at now with this whole ordeal.
My initial exposure to the platform lasted about one year. This was back in 2014, when Instagram was just a place to capture photos, apply filters and share them with your followers. The app was very basic and its features were simplistic. During this brief period, I only posted about 15 photos, all dirt bike related. I started following similar accounts, in hopes they would follow back. I honestly don’t recall what my motive was at the time, I feel like perhaps I was simply jumping on the bandwagon because Instagram was the trendy thing to do.
I logged off the app sometime in 2015. And for the following 5 years, my life changed forever. I was hit by an intense wave of post-viral chronic fatigue from the Epstein-Barr virus. I had to stop dirt biking entirely and focus on getting my strength and vitality back. I had no desire to look at my Instagram account as it brought me a lot of pain, mostly grief and resentment, since my life had changed forever. Letting go of my old identity, and embracing my new reality was my focal point. In fact, for several years, I dismissed my passion for riding entirely. I wanted nothing to do with it and completely shut the door on that part of my life…
Until one morning, something sparked inside me. My curiosity for riding was reignited, as I finally felt healthy enough to get back on my bike. I had unfinished business to take care of, and getting back on the bike quickly became my new priority. So in 2020, I finally logged back into my Instagram account. But this time around, I had a clearer motive. I wanted to use the platform to share my story and talk about my healing journey. I wanted to inspire others and make an impact. So from that day forward, I made a promise with myself… That I would only use this platform to inspire, and not for the fame or instant gratification.
This new chapter in my life was both exciting and terrifying. Not only was I getting back on the bike after a five year hiatus, I also started sharing and engaging a lot on Instagram. I was posting consistently, at least 2-3 times a week, if not more. I was leaving comments and liking people’s content. I was sliding into people’s DMs, making connections with other women riders. Even though it felt like I was doing all the right things, my account was only growing slowly. Over time, this whole process started to feel like a chore. Little did I know, I had opened a Pandora’s box for myself…
After a few years of consistent grinding, my excitement for building my community on Instagram was slowly dwindling. Feelings of frustration and overstimulation started taking over. Eventually, resentment towards others who appeared to be successful in my niche started creeping in… I thought to myself, this can’t be good. Why am I feeling this way? Where is all of this coming from? If I’m not doing this for the fame, as I had formerly promised myself, why am I obsessing over my metrics? And why am I being triggered every time I open the app? Let’s unpack this phenomenon and dive into the reasons why this all happened
Too much noise…
Instagram is, without question, an extremely noisy environment. The overwhelming abundance of perfectly curated photos was slowly warping my perception of reality. Everyone appeared to be killing it, while I was secretly struggling to get out of bed on most days. We often share our best moments and accomplishments on social media, while leaving out the not so glamorous aspects of our lives. What we tend to post is not a representation of our whole life, but rather, it’s only a small piece of a bigger, more complex story. For that reason, Instagram has become a massive highlights reel into people’s lives. To the logical mind, this notion is quite obvious and easy to recognize. But somatically, it remains very hard to integrate within ourselves and to live by.
Furthermore, this landscape of curated feeds gave rise to the world and culture of brand ambassadors and influencers. Since my goal was to share my story, I felt like I needed to pursue this path in order to get my message out there. Growing my follower count quickly became my main priority so I started managing my account through the lens of social media marketing. How can I post in a way that will get the most eyes on me? How can I grab people’s attention most affectively? How can I convince complete strangers to hit the follow button? Those questions became the driver behind the type of content I curated and posted on my profile. Teaming up with brands and securing sponsorship deals is a rite of passage to this influencer life, so I dabbled in that realm too.
Over time, my desire to inspire others became a forced activity that no long felt natural and coherent with my spirit. Confused, and overwhelmed, I starting feeling like a failure. My plan wasn’t working out the way I wanted it. I was putting a significant amount of effort into it, and only yielding small-scale growth that eventually plateaued. I was at the mercy of the algorithm gods and I was no longer interested in pleasing its requirements. I was overstimulated, exhausted and creatively depleted. I just spent the last few years looking outside of myself for inspiration and a sense of direction. I was disconnected from my own personal dreams desires and constantly seeking validation from others. My inner child was just screaming for love and approval, the kind that only I am capable of giving myself.
My vision was clouded…
More often than not, my riding plans revolved around content creation. While I was ripping my dirt bike through the forest, I was always on the lookout for that perfect photo or video opportunity. At first, this habit seemed harmless. But over time, it evolved into an obsession. The whole process became compulsory and unnatural. I would catch myself trying to create content, when in reality, I just wanted to ride. Talk about a vibe killer. Deep down inside I knew I was over it, and yet I kept grasping onto it, just to avoid that dreadful fear of missing out. What if I started posting less? Will my views start declining? Will people start forgetting about me? Will I just fade away into the abyss and become irrelevant? The pressure to continue what I had started was real. I fell into the influencer trap and wanted out.
Pretending to be someone you’re not is exhausting and soul sucking. I finally realized that I could no longer keep up with the Joneses and that my love for riding was at risk. I was no longer getting any joy out of that “pursuit”. Pursuit for what? Fame? Approval of others? Instant gratification? As much as I had good intentions, I got sucked into the trap and forgot who I was in the process. The constant comparison to others had my nervous system in a perpetual state of fight or flight. Every time I opened up the app, my insecurities were mega triggered. Additionally, watching people fight for the spotlight created this bizarre experience, and I no longer wanted to consume this type of content. I needed a break free from the platform in order to find my identity again.
Recalibrating my dopamine…
Stepping away from the platform was just what my soul needed. This gave me time to reconnect with myself and identify my own personal goals and desires. This is impossible to do when you’re constantly exposed to other people’s aspirations and fantasies. Since this breakthrough, I’ve been able to cultivate more joy and create a more sustainable approach when it comes to my hobby. I no longer feel the need to rush, or catch up to others, as I’m on my own unique journey. I have found my love again for the day to day grind and I no longer feel the need to post each milestone or accomplishment. I’m quite happy to keep those things to myself. And letting go of this idea that I need to quit my nine to five and make a career out of riding is quite liberating! My zest for life is back!
This whole journey has only strengthened my connection to my soul’s purpose. I’m no longer bothered by what others are doing, and I have so much gratitude for my own journey and for the progress I’ve been able to make throughout the last decade. Riding is no longer my whole identity. Instead, I use it as a tool to level up. Having athletic goals helps me make better choices every day. It’s like my personal compass. I need to stay mentally and physically strong in order to do my thing. And with social media added to the mix, my spiritual stamina and character have become unshakable. I’ve gotten to know myself on a deeper level. I’m much more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. And my creative juices have started flowing again!
My move to a personal website and long form content is quite scary. Let’s face it, long form content is a lot more work and requires more time and patience to build a community. No more instant gratification. No more competition for the spotlight. No more fear of missing out… And I couldn’t be happier. Now I’m able to create in a way that feeds my soul. I’m no longer confined by the platform. I can create without boundaries, and on my own timeline. I can move away from my niche and express other facets of my life. I’m in it for the long game. I’m ready to cultivate higher quality connections and grow a high vibe community of like-minded individuals who are on the path of self-improvement. The world needs resilient warriors right now, more than ever. If social media is bogging you down, take a break, reassess and realign yourself so that you can truly shine your light and make our world a better place.
I’d love to hear your feedback and experience with platforms such as Instagram. Are you a fan? Or do you prefer long form content such as reading articles or watching YouTube videos? Let me know in the comments section below.
Beautiful website Rose. This will inspire others to be authentic so they too can find their passion and let their light shine. Keep sharing your thoughts and videos. Enjoy the ride.😘
Thanks mom ❤️🙏 you have always inspired me to live a healthy lifestyle. I’m very grateful for this journey and yes, I will keep on doing my thing! 🥰