Is Instagram evil or am I terribly insecure?

Maybe both.

I wasn’t planning on making this website—at least not this week, not this month, even. Following multiple conversations with friends about Instagram and how it’s been triggering my deepest, darkest demons, I started building this on a whim.

Don’t get me wrong. I love instantly sharing work and getting feedback, connecting with people I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, finding new artists who inspire me, etcetc. Unfortunately, these highest of highs have also come with the lowest of lows. The more time I spend on the platform, the more I find myself having negative thought patterns. I’d start comparing myself with other artists. Depending on the day that spiral would go two ways: either I’d get competitive and decide to do better OR I’d start thinking, “Why bother when I’m not the only one making this kind of work?” It’s gotten so out of hand that I plan on making an appointment with my therapist soon. After all, this isn’t exactly Instagram’s fault (I mean it’s an app for crying out loud). It’s the way my brain twists everything I see on the platform into a reflection of my failures.

Due to the nature of my work, it wasn’t like I could just delete the app. Instead I tried creating boundaries. I muted people I know IRL. I stopped watching people’s Stories. I put the app faaar from my main homescreen. I turned on my phone’s filter so it’d be black and white.

Then as if the Universe was listening, this post turned up on my feed. And so began this website.

I know, I know. Having this site won’t cure my insecurities. I’ve still got to go to therapy for that. But at the very least, I’ve reclaimed a safe space online and * fingers crossed * a bit of my sanity.