Let's stop the scroll for good: escaping social media
- Rachel
- Sep 13
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 14
Yesterday, I made the decision to step away from Instagram for a month. The words I shared are below and - as I write this - they've been viewed almost 18,000 times. It's by far the most widely shared, saved and liked post I've ever published, which I think means that it has resonated with a lot of people. If you haven't seen it, I've included the slides below.
When I joined Instagram in 2010, I couldn't have foreseen this outcome. Back then, I was writing a successful beauty blog called The Beauty Hall, and it felt like the perfect way to share my skincare recommendations through photography. It was a fun, creative space, and - in between snaps of new products - I'd try to capture the perfect sunset and take curated shots of my Saturday flat white and croissant at The Blackbird Bakery. The pattern we all followed was to play with lighting, colour presets and exposure levels to create a pretty picture or a dreamy mood. Then we posted, put down our phones and carried on with our lives.
Fast forward to 2025 and Instagram has lost all of its joy. For those of us with businesses, the pressure to 'create content' is relentless, and the algorithm promotes the things that hook attention. Maybe that's wild, unbelievable beauty, and at the opposite end it's fear, provocation and horror. The people behind Instagram, TikTok and X want as many eyes on their apps for as long as possible as it helps them to sell advertising space. The creators producing the content might be rewarded with likes, engagement and even financial gains like product sales or partnerships, but lately, I've felt a strong sense that I'm part of a pyramid scheme where your eyes and attention are the commodity that the people at the top want. Every time I open the app, my conscience pushes me to only seek to add value to the lives of the people who follow my account, but something happened this week that was the final straw.
When I learned of Charlie Kirk's assassination, I knew it was the end for me and Instagram. Despite my heavily curated feed and my account set to filter out 'sensitive content', people would still continue to share his horrific final moments, just as they do for so many other unfortunate souls who happen to be caught on camera in distress or worse, in their final moments. It was in that moment that I realised that - as long as I create a reason for people to log in to Instagram - I am part of the problem, which is why I have chosen to step away. The positive side of this decision is that I will spend more time here on my blog, and I am exploring other platforms to create a space where we can collectively nurture and grow the wonderful community we had formed on Instagram.
My dream for this blog is that it becomes a space where I can share in a way that is more aligned to my own preferences than feeling forced to operate in the cookie-cutter format required by Instagram. I'll be sharing posts on a wide range of topics like skincare, food, lifestyle and personal growth but I also want to experiment with writing about the things that inspire me like literature, philosophy: in short, sources of beauty in the world. At some point, I know I have to answer the creative call to make longer form videos, and make this a place that is good for the soul, but for now, I am looking forward to the peace and serenity that comes with writing and sharing beautiful images.
When I walked away from Instagram yesterday, I knew it would come with some disappointment from many of you, so I want you to know that this blog is somewhere that we can interact just as we did on Instagram. The comments section here will feel no different - I'll still be here and will reply - and maybe there'll even be more here for you to engage with: I do hope so!
Finally, I'll be very candid about my motive in moving to this blog: I think social media is destroying the human soul and spirit, and I want to help as many people to escape it as I can. I want to free up your time to engage in thought, creativity, positivity and beauty. I want your life to be happier and healthier, your heart more full and at ease. I want humanity to reconnect: to understand that there is more to our lives that political discourse and difference. And most importantly, to live fully in this one, beautiful life we have each been granted.
If detaching from social media is your goal, I will help you by sharing here more over the next month. I think that - together - we can break the habit and live more fulfilling lives as a result.
I'd love to chat in the comments, and if there are topics you would like me to write about, please post them below!
Rachel x
I had a year break from Instagram and recently returned to it as I am trying to build a business.
But I have noticed just how scary it is and I feel unsafe. The content is truly horrific and I am worried for children seeing this.
I feel I have to step away again. I enjoy making art and showcasing it on my grid, but it has really affected my mental health as a result and I am much happier without it.
I will have to find another way to form my business. My health is more important.
Thank you for your honestly. This is a wonderful post.
Stepping away is certainly food for thought, I can recognise that I waste time on social media, consuming a variety of content, some thought provoking, inspiring and interesting and of course the inevitable click bait, and absolutely rubbish as well as the worst of what goes on in the world. Fair play to you for protecting yourself and stepping away from an increasingly toxic platform.