We’ve all heard at least someone say Instagram is an addiction, increases FOMO, causes people to compare their lives and bodies to others, or turns life into a popularity contest.
My peers have started deleting their Instagram accounts because having the app can be unhealthy. It’s a totally valid solution, but I also believe getting rid of the Gram isn’t the only way out. Instagram is inanimate and doesn’t have the ability to tell us what to do or how to feel. The real obstacle is our own mindset. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Instagram – it’s the way we use it that needs to change.
Here are the methods I’ve used to improve my relationship with Instagram:
1. Instead of using Instagram as a method of personal gain, use it to share what’s going on in your life.
Too often we post a picture to try and prove ourselves, to get likes, to make others think we live an intriguing life, etc. Not only does this make us more self-absorbed, but it turns Instagram into a competition. When you post that picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, tell yourself you’re posting it simply to let friends know you’re on a trip in Paris! Don’t post it to get hundreds of likes or to make people jealous.
2. Instead of comparing yourself to other people’s pictures, appreciate the beauty of the person and the photo.
Instagram is a place where people post their favourite pictures, which is super awesome. What isn’t super awesome is when we compare our own lives to others’ lives after they posted an attractive photo. This critical self-evaluation is not the problem of the person who posted the picture – it’s a problem with our mindset. But, good news: a negative mindset is something we can change. When you see a nice photo someone posted, appreciate the picture and be happy for them. Try not to make it about you and what you do or don’t have.
3. Instead of going on the app just because you’re bored, go on to catch up on your friends’ lives.
Social media is a really, really good way for me to keep up with what’s going on in the lives of everyone I care about. My friends and I are at different universities and therefore we don’t have time to talk every day. Instagram allows me to quickly see how they’re doing and what they’re up to. I try not to go on Instagram just because I “can.” Scrolling and double-tapping for the sake of scrolling and double-tapping leads to habit and addiction. It doesn’t take long before clicking the app becomes so routine that people start looking through their feeds in the middle of social gatherings, university lectures and even at red lights.
4. Instead of posting the picture you think OTHERS will like, post the picture YOU like.
Your profile is YOUR profile, not anyone else’s. So, post pictures YOU like. When you post pictures to get likes, you start to become obsessed with how many likes you get, which of your pictures has the most and how many you have compared to your followers. It’s exhausting and suddenly Instagram can turn into the Hunger Games rather than a leisurely activity.
Think of your Instagram page like your room. You likely don’t want someone else choosing the furniture and paint colours. Same thing with Instagram. You’ll be a lot happier if your page is covered with images that reflect you, what you like and who you are.
5. Instead of tip-toeing around the Instagram expectations of society, make your OWN Instagram rules.
If you want your Instagram story to be 20 videos long, be my guest. If you want to post two pictures in one day, go for it. You wish you could post 10 pictures from this past basketball season? Listen to Nike and “just do it.” Once you get into the habit of doing what makes you happy, you’ll care a lot less about what other people think. Let Instagram be a positive place for you to express who you are and what your life is all about.
Instagram has a lot to offer the world. It shares news, memes, pictures from beautiful places around the world, and it’s an easy way to keep in touch with one another. Unfortunately, people sometimes see the app as a competition and the “likes” are a number on a scoreboard. We can’t control how everyone else uses the Gram, but you can control how you use it. Sometimes taking a break from social media and deleting the Instagram app can be the healthy way to go. However, other times it’s just mind over matter, and let me assure you: Your mind is a lot stronger than you think it is.