Instagram

[LemonSwan]

Just here for a winge as I have headache (which I increasingly seem to getting these days) and I need to rant about Instagram re. recent changes.

I used to enjoy the home feed, the calming scrolling through still pictures at my own pace - whether fast or slow. Now my home feed is filled with moving images and it’s bloody disorientating and headache inducing scrolling through. I used to spend 10/20 mins on there here and there. Now I can’t manage more than 5 max and I leave feeling disoriented.

I do enjoy reels, but they take a lot of brain energy and when I want to view them I click on reels. To me reels are day to day time wasting boredom busters. Very rarely are they of any value that I wish to save one - which is the main reason I have insta; as a save library for info/ inspiration for my interests (interiors, landscape/ nature / travel photography and gardening).

Now with my Instagram feed is filled with videos it’s making the site unusable and doing my head in - quite literally!

AIBU?

Who’s with me?

When instagram first came out (was it 2012) it was great! Absolutely great for photographers and art lovers. A way to showcase their work. Lovely way to share pictures of your daily life and memories with friends. A nice simple app.

In recent years it’s became toxic. “Influencers” and celebrities showcasing their fake “perfect” lives. Every other post is an advertisement, a sponsored post, a post from someone you’re not even following! Really damaging for young people. Most children these days aspire to be “influencers”.

They are trying to compete with TikTok in the sense of more videos and reels.

I hate the app now.

I agree it’s sad 😢

I really enjoyed tiktok too but I had to delete it. It was a waste of time and I can’t justify an app who’s only purpose is to steal my precious time with inane dance songs 🤣

Atleast with tiktok when you flicked for a new video it started from ‘still’ IYSWIM - like it does in reels.

I love Insta so much I am trying to make it work but it just doesn’t!!! Theres just something absolutely brain crushing about videos playing while you scroll. A flipping nightmare!!!!

@FlissyPaps it was great because facebook didn't own it. Then they did & changed the algorithms, monetised it & are now trying to rival tik tok.

Yep hate it! I want to be able to listen to my podcast or whatever and not have fucking reels interrupting me! It was my last social media account standing and it’s probably not going to be much longer 😄 so irritating.

You can mute the suggested reels for 30 days at a time. Such a relief!

Omg I agree! It's changed for the worse and I think lots of people are feeling the same. I also keep getting accounts showing up on my main feed that I don't even follow which is annoying.

And every other post is from someone I don’t follow. So what’s the point of following anyone then?? Yes you can mute but why should you have to. I delete the app every few weeks and just end up re-downloading, just what they want 😄 agh I hate that piece of myself haha

They've recently addressed this and said it's something new they tried but hasn't gone down well so they will be taking steps backwards.

Trying too hard to be like tik tok

It's the same on Facebook (the only social media I use). It all seems to be videos from people I don't know, influencers etc and now these shorter reels that are absolutely pointless and now take priority over my friends stories. I used to like Facebook when it was just friends and family feeds. Now it's total brain drain.

I did this and now I'm being flooded with 'sponsored' posts on my timeline instead, it's infuriating!

Oh the new Instagram is unbearable. Try to click on notifications to see the comments and it never comes up. The text is in black with grey writing which is impossible to read (when I click on my posts) so I can’t even read what is said. Why black?????
I’ve found several message requests that had been hidden, one was free stuff they wanted to give me! I look unprofessional ignoring comments but I can’t bring up notifications. I have to go into every post and click on it, watch the text turn black and then try to read it. Also, I used to post videos but now they just want me to post stories??? Bring back the old Instagram.

Now I’ve had my rant, yes the moving reels are disorienting to say the least!

It is trying to be everything and ending up being nothing. If I want to watch videos I'll go on Tiktok. I used to find it so relaxing looking at slightly aspirational photos of food, travel, home and fashion. It used to bring me calm. Like a constantly renewing glossy magazine I didn't have to pay for, and my friends and family were sometimes the models! I think I might have to go back on Pinterest or something to scroll photos not videos. Videos I engage with differently. They ask more from me and are more stimulating IYSWIM. Instagram used to help me sleep because it only engaged one sense, I could listen to music whilst ok there, or scroll with a sleeping child on me. I'm not saying there isn't a place for it, but where is the just photos place Now?

Facebook fucking ruin everything

I've deleted the app now, and Facebook as well. And actually just went and bought a print magazine for the first time in forever

@Antigonesaunt Ive gone back to mags but there is hardly any left now.

Hate insta at the moment, it's just a constant barrage of suggested reels and sponsored posts. It can get in the bin.

They've recently addressed this and said it's something new they tried but hasn't gone down well so they will be taking steps backwards.
they will keep trying things though as they need it to keep making money and shares are down.

It was my last social media account standing and it’s probably not going to be much longer

Now it's total brain drain.

Why black?????

It used to bring me calm. Like a constantly renewing glossy magazine I didn't have to pay for,

Videos I engage with differently. They ask more from me and are more stimulating IYSWIM. Instagram used to help me sleep because it only engaged one sense, I could listen to music whilst ok there, or scroll with a sleeping child on me. I'm not saying there isn't a place for it, but where is the just photos place Now?

It can get in the bin.

You all said it better than I could!

Glad I am not alone in my mourning

I know @tigertigerg I'm feeling nostalgic for my next catalogue right now that's how bad it is 😂