Welp, It’s Official. #ByeInstagram 👋

It’s not you, Instagram. It’s me. Okay, maybe it’s a little you.

Welp. It’s official.

After years of posting, rebranding, trying again, questioning myself, and wondering if the algorithm secretly has a personal vendetta against me…

I’m finally giving up on Instagram.

And honestly? It’s a little bittersweet.

Instagram and I practically grew up together.

I created my first account back in 2014, during my senior year of high school.

You know, back when Instagram was actually about sharing photos?

When you could post a random picture of your dog, your coffee, a sunset, or literally whatever you wanted, and the people who followed you would actually SEE it?

Remember that?

No perfect aesthetic required.

No trending audio.

No spending 45 minutes editing a 10-second Reel just for it to get 12 views.

Just pictures, captions, and people actually interacting with each other.

What a concept.

Fast-forward to 2026, and apparently, I’m supposed to be a content creator, video editor, social media strategist, marketing expert, and algorithm whisperer just to share my thoughts.

And here I am, a mental health advocate and content creator with fewer than 50 followers.

Living the influencer dream, obviously.

When Did Sharing Become So Exhausting?

Somewhere along the way, Instagram stopped feeling like a place to share and started feeling like another job.

Post consistently.

Make Reels.

Follow trends.

Use the right hashtags.

Engage with other accounts.

Post at the right time.

Be authentic, but also make sure your authenticity fits into a perfectly edited 15-second video.

And whatever you do, don’t disappear for a few days because apparently the algorithm might forget you exist.

I’ve tried.

I’ve rebranded.

I’ve started over.

I’ve experimented with different content.

And I’ve spent way too much time wondering what I’m doing wrong.

Then there are the ghost followers.

You know the ones.

The friends or acquaintances who follow you because they know you in real life but never actually interact with anything you post.

Which, to be fair, nobody owes me likes or comments.

But there’s something strangely discouraging about sharing something meaningful and hearing absolutely nothing back.

Especially when you’re trying to start conversations about mental health, self-care, and the messy reality of being human.

Sometimes I don’t even want to be an influencer.

I just want to be a person sharing thoughts with other people.

Apparently, that’s asking a lot.

But Wait… I’m Not Boycotting Instagram Because of AI

Before anyone assumes I’m jumping on the latest #ByeInstagram movement, I want to clarify something.

I’ve noticed more artists talking about leaving Instagram because of Meta’s generative AI policies and concerns about how their artwork and content may be used.

And while I completely respect their decisions, that’s not why I’m leaving.

Actually, I have a somewhat different perspective on artificial intelligence.

As a modern artist, photographer, graphic designer, and creative person who has been making things for years, I support the responsible use of AI.

Yep. I said it.

I’m an artist who uses AI, and I’m not afraid to admit it.

I know that’s a controversial statement in certain creative communities.

But here’s how I see it.

AI isn’t automatically the enemy of creativity.

It’s a tool.

And like any tool, what matters is how we choose to use it.

I believe a lot of the problems surrounding AI come from people not understanding how to use it properly or responsibly.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate concerns about copyright, consent, or artists having their work used without permission.

Those conversations matter.

But I also don’t believe using AI automatically makes someone less of an artist.

You can learn how to guide AI tools, refine your prompts, and develop results that complement your personal artistic style.

You can use it for inspiration, brainstorming, experimenting with visual ideas, or helping bring something from your imagination into reality.

And you can still draw, paint, photograph, design, and create things yourself.

Using AI doesn’t mean I’ve stopped being creative. It means I’ve added another tool to my creative toolbox.

My imagination doesn’t suddenly disappear because I used technology to help express it.

I still have to make decisions.

I still have to know what I want.

I still have my own artistic preferences, ideas, and creative direction.

And I still believe human creativity matters.

I also believe transparency matters.

I’m not interested in pretending I created something entirely by hand when I didn’t.

I would rather be upfront about my process than feel ashamed of using a tool that helps me create.

Maybe my perspective is different because I’ve always been someone who experiments with different creative mediums.

Photography, digital art, graphic design, writing, and now AI-assisted creativity.

I’ve never believed an artist needs to stick to one method to be considered a real artist.

And I’m certainly not starting now.

So no, I’m not leaving Instagram because I hate AI.

I understand why other artists are concerned, and I support their right to protect their work and make their own decisions.

But my frustration with Instagram has very little to do with artificial intelligence and everything to do with how exhausting the platform has become.

Which brings me back to my original point…

My Motto Has Always Been to Keep Trying…

Here’s where my overthinking brain comes in.

Part of my personal philosophy has always been to keep trying.

If something doesn’t work, try something different.

If you fail, learn from it.

If you fall down, get back up.

Very inspirational, right?

But lately, I’ve been asking myself something.

What happens when you keep trying, and something STILL doesn’t work?

At what point does perseverance become repeatedly exhausting yourself for something that isn’t giving anything back?

Because I do this with more than Instagram.

I do it with my Etsy shop, too.

I rebrand.

I change things.

I create something new.

I convince myself that THIS time will be different.

And sometimes it isn’t.

So I go back to the drawing board.

Again.

And again.

And again.

There’s a fine line between refusing to give up on your dreams and refusing to accept that maybe a particular approach just isn’t working.

I’m still learning where that line is.

Maybe Giving Up Isn’t Always Failure

I’m realizing that walking away from something doesn’t necessarily mean I failed.

Maybe it means I’m finally recognizing where my energy is better spent.

I still love creating.

I still love writing.

I still love photography, graphic design, mental health advocacy, and sharing those random 3 AM thoughts that refuse to let me sleep.

None of that is changing.

But maybe the place where I share those things needs to change.

That’s partly why I’ve been exploring Substack and Tumblr while continuing to build my own website.

I miss when sharing something felt personal.

When writing something meaningful mattered more than how many people watched a Reel.

When the internet felt like a place to connect rather than an endless competition for attention.

I don’t need thousands of followers.

I don’t need to go viral.

I would just love to know that something I created made someone feel a little less alone.

Even if that someone is just one person.

So, Instagram… It’s Not You. It’s Me.

Actually, who am I kidding?

It’s definitely a little you.

We’ve had a good run.

From my awkward teenage photos in 2014 to my even more awkward attempts at becoming a content creator in 2026.

But I’m tired of chasing an algorithm that I don’t understand.

I’m tired of measuring my creativity by views, likes, and follower counts.

And I’m tired of feeling like I have to turn every thought into a Reel just for it to have a chance of being seen.

Maybe I’ll change my mind someday.

Maybe I’ll post a random sunset again.

Maybe I’ll just let the account sit there collecting digital dust.

Who knows?

I’m 30, still figuring out adulthood, and apparently still figuring out when it’s okay to stop trying.

But here’s something I’m learning:

You can give up on a platform without giving up on your purpose.

You can embrace new technology without abandoning traditional creativity.

You can change direction without starting your entire life over.

And you can keep creating even when nobody is watching.

So, welp.

#ByeInstagram.

Not because I’m anti-AI.

Not because I’m joining a boycott.

But because sometimes the healthiest creative decision is recognizing when something isn’t working for you anymore.

For now, you’ll find me here, sharing my unfiltered thoughts, overthinking absolutely everything, experimenting with creativity in all its forms, and continuing to do my best-ish.

No trending audio required.

— Abby

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A little 3 AM thought:

Have you ever walked away from something you kept trying to make work?

And for my fellow creatives: do you see AI as another artistic tool, or do you feel it’s changing creativity in ways you’re uncomfortable with?

I think there’s room for both perspectives, even when we disagree.