The last time I posted a photo on Instagram was in December. I only keep the app on my phone in case the cute guy from my history class decides to DM me again.
My break up with Instagram came when I hit a seriously rough patch with my mental health. I’ve struggled with body image since high school, but it turned into full-blown disordered eating in college. Because our phones track what we do, Instagram “knew” how much I cared about losing weight. Every post suggested to me on the explore page was about weight loss. If it wasn't a new diet trend that would surely work, it was an influencer telling me I could be hot too if I did more crunches or drank some flat tummy tea.
One day, after hours of scrolling through posts and falling into a deeper and deeper depression, I realized something needed to change. My first step was to stop looking at the explore page. I told myself I would only scroll through my feed and then I’d close the app.
This new game plan gave rise to problems of its own. First of all, did I have the self-control to not head over to the explore page once I had already opened the app?
Not always.
Then, after scrolling through vacation pictures of bikini-clad girls from my school, I came to another realization. The explore page was not my only problem. I posed a question to myself that I should have asked much earlier.
“What am I getting out of this app?”
As I scrolled through the posts and hated myself for not looking as skinny, or flawless, or sun-kissed, I realized what the problem was. I was using Instagram to compare myself to others. Every time I made a comparison, I felt like I was coming up short. When I realized this, I knew what I had to do.
I decided to stop checking Instagram once and for all.
Sure, I’ve missed some funny rants on my friends’ private Instagram stories and not always known what people are up to during their semesters abroad. But this change has made me much happier and healthier.
For me, Instagram is about comparing how other people look to how I look. For others, Instagram is all about comparing the number of likes. While Instagram has no way to stop people from comparing themselves to each other, they can stop people from comparing likes. Instagram has piloted a change to the app in Canada, where users are unable to see the number of likes on other people’s photos. This essentially turns the app into a photo album. Without likes, users can enjoy other people’s photos without worrying about popularity. It shifts the app from a contest to a gallery.
At least, that’s the goal. I’m not sure if it will actually make a difference for anyone’s mental health. While likes may make people envious, I think it’s the images and experiences that truly cause people to make unhealthy comparisons. Instagram itself probably can’t do anything within the app to change this negativity. Users need to gain positive self-esteem in real life if they want to be able to use the app without feeling instant self-doubt. If Instagram wants to make improving mental health a priority, they should do so by funding programs in schools and media campaigns that promote self-care and body positivity.
Let the app be the app and focus efforts on offline change.
As much as I want to credit my decision to stop using Instagram with my improved self-image, I know that it is so much more than that. Therapy, conversations with friends, and hearing the stories of others who have faced similar battles are what led me to change. Hiding the number of likes is not going to be enough to change anyone’s well-being, but the initiative shows that Instagram at least cares about young people and their mental health. If that is truly the case, I hope to see them refocus their efforts and support real dialogue and resources emphasizing body positivity.
