Towards the end of 2024, I removed Instagram from my phone. In the last week of January 2025, I downloaded it again and logged in.
Less than a week later I logged out and now I no longer have Instagram on my phone.
I’ve come to realise that Instagram is much more enjoyable when I don’t constantly have it with me.
Instead of having instant and constant access to the social media app, my use is now limited to being at home. I now use Instagram on my tablet.
In the last week my maximum daily screen time was 20 minutes and the maximum times I opened the app was 4. It’s kind of clunky to pick up my tablet and scroll the way I used to on my phone. I no longer browse the explore page and I’m finding that my use on the app feels more aligned with why I joined Instagram in the first place.
At the same time, I also feel like I’d be fine without it. I’m getting back into blogs and newsletters, which Instagram is basically just bitesize versions of with the addition of video content.
The less I use Instagram, the more I understand that it’s just something I use out of habit. It can be a great tool, there are probably millions of people that earn a living from it and plenty more that enjoy it for entertainment or keeping up with friends/family. However, it can also be a great waste of time.
So right now, in this current period of my life, I don’t want Instagram on my phone and I can’t see that changing any time soon.
The Daily Gemm 