Why I'll Be Leaving Instagram

And what comes next.

I love getting up early in the morning.

The people I love are still safely tucked away in bed. My animals are curled up in snoozy little balls around the house. Everyone is at peace. I turn on a single dim lamp, casting just enough light to navigate around our quiet home in the darkness, and I get the coffee pot going. There isn’t any music playing or TV droning in the background. It’s just me and my breath.

...Inhale…2…3… exhale…2…3…

This is more than a routine—it’s a kind of therapy. In the stillness of the early morning, my mind is calm. My thoughts haven’t begun to race. There’s nothing to dwell on, nothing to fret over. No notifications to check. No headlines to scroll. Nobody’s bullshit—not even my own. For a little while, I’m fully present, soaking in the quiet joy of existing.

And then, I reach for my phone. The calm evaporates.

Suddenly, I’m hit with a flood of notifications, half-truths, outrage, and endless scrolling. My mind goes from peaceful to overstimulated in seconds. The algorithm yanks me from one extreme emotion to the next, and before I know it, I’ve lost the serenity I woke up with.

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve strayed from those early days when social media was fun, light, and harmless.

I remember when the most crucial part of a digital friendship was whether or not you were in somebody’s “Top 8” on Myspace. Facebook was just a series of cringey status updates that had to begin with “Joe is…” There was no politics. No AI. No misinformation. It was a way to connect with your friends, express yourself, and have a bit of dumb fun. Instagram was just a photo album to share with others, and maybe brag a little bit. Twitter was little bite-sized chunks of humor, news, or “live-Tweeting” an event or show you were watching on TV.

My goodness, how things have changed over the past 20 years.

Now, I can’t log into a social media platform without getting force-fed a litany of sponsored posts trying to sell me things, AI-generated rage-bait, and political rallying. The fun is absolutely gone. And it’s unsettling when I mention something like “strawberry cheesecake” out loud to my wife, and seconds later I’m seeing advertisements for The Cheesecake Factory in my Instagram stories.

It was getting to the point where I was starting to question the need for these platforms at all...

And then Donald Trump happened. Again.

I watched as the billionaire tech-bros lined up to shell out millions of dollars to his inaugural fund, while pledging to roll back diversity initiatives and fact-checking on their social media platforms. Zuckerberg, Musk, and a slew of other wannabe oligarchs were seated front row at Trump’s inauguration, ahead of even his own cabinet members. Their actions in recent weeks aren't just tone-deaf—they're actively and purposefully undermining values like inclusion, truth, and accountability, things I believe are critical for a healthy society.

And then you see things like:

• Instagram and Facebook Blocked and Hid Abortion Pill Providers’ Posts

• Meta Faces Backlash As Democrat-Related Terms Disappear From Instagram

And as I’ve watched this dystopian nightmare begin to play out, I’ve come to the realization that I simply can’t support these platforms anymore. Every time I log in, I’m actively funneling money into the pockets of some of the worst people on the planet. I’m throwing my support behind them and giving them the power to make the world a worse place for everyone but themselves.

Am I really just going to go along with it out of habit? Am I that addicted to the scrolling and the easy dopamine?

And all it costs me is… my own mental well-being??

Hold up… the math here just ain’t mathin’!

…Inhale…2…3…exhale…2…3…

Okay.

I’ve already said goodbye to Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok. Beginning today, I’ll be gradually stepping away from Instagram and moving toward something that better aligns with my personal beliefs. Something simpler, quieter, and more intentional.

With this Substack journal (err...newsletter?...blog?), I’d like to share the things that are happening in my little world. Tell honest stories. Pass along photos. Do some self-reflecting. I’ll share some book recommendations, tell stories from my trail running adventures, and wax poetic on topics like authenticity, quiet living, and meaningful communication. I want this space to feel like that early morning peace—a reprieve from the noise.

I know this decision comes with a trade-off. Stepping away from Instagram means I’ll miss out on the lives and adventures my friends and family share—the exciting highlights and the quiet, everyday moments. That’s by far the hardest part of this choice. I genuinely love seeing your stories, and I don’t take lightly the possibility of feeling disconnected. But I’m committed to finding more intentional ways to stay involved and engaged, whether that’s through direct conversations, phone calls, or even visits in person. Make no mistake: I love you, and I care about you!

If you’re also feeling the pull toward something quieter and more thoughtful, I’d love for you to join me here. Let’s create a space where we can connect in a way that feels genuine and grounded.

For now, I’ll pour another cup of coffee, sit in the early morning quiet, and remind myself to breathe.

Inhale…2…3…exhale…2…3…

P.S. - I’m also giving Bluesky a try, so if you’re exploring that platform, feel free to link up with me at @joevonbokern.bsky.social. Not sure what that’ll look like, honestly. I’m more curious than anything else.