It's been years since I've been asked: "Why do you disappear from Instagram? Why don't you use any social media platform — you're a journalism major with two mass communication degrees, after all."
Well, let me answer that question while dissecting exactly what it is we are consuming.
When we open our Instagram accounts, we begin scrolling through reels and posts, spending our time and attention on subjects we enjoy and people we relate to. We assume Instagram is simply personalising content according to our preferences, but what is actually happening is far more calculated. The platform collects data on you: how many seconds you watched a particular reel, what you searched for, who you follow, and which opinions you engage with. This data is then used to feed you more of the same, and in doing so, it creates an echo chamber. Willingly or unwillingly, we build a digital bubble around ourselves — one filled with products we've searched for, subtle advertisements, brand collaborations, and only the kinds of opinions we already want to hear. The result is a slow, steady reinforcement of existing beliefs, with little room for anything that challenges them.
Then there is the performance of it all. People curate and present only the parts of their lives that fit their aesthetic, match their vibe, or simply show the best version of themselves while concealing the rest. That alone would be manageable, but the more damaging consequence is the effect it has on those watching. Many people begin comparing their real, unfiltered lives to these carefully constructed personas, and start purchasing the things that the people they admire own or endorse, whether those endorsements are genuine or simply paid UGC advertisements in disguise.
If you look at Instagram today, most content falls into one of two categories: opinions wrapped in the faces of relatable influencers, or advertisements, hidden or otherwise.
I have no interest in confining my perspectives to an algorithm that only shows me what I already believe. Nor do I want to find myself endlessly purchasing products I don't need, simply because they were presented to me in a persuasive enough way.
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