BEST INSTAGRAM GROWTH TOOLS
Do you want to know how to stop Instagram addiction?
If you are worried that you might be addicted to Instagram or social media in general, then you’ve come to the right place.
We love Instagram for a thousand different reasons, but we know that it’s also possible to have too much of a good thing.
Whether you are out of control with your Instagram addiction, or you’re feeling it start to creep in, we can help you manage your time better, and get a better-quality experience on the Instagram app.
So, put your phone down, stop scrolling for a second, and find out how to stop Instagram addiction.
5 Signs of Instagram Addiction
Did you know that studies prove that social media is as addictive as gambling? Being addicted to Instagram isn’t something to be taken lightly.
As the photo sharing app increases in popularity, the issue is becoming more prevalent.
Some researchers are now backing the connection between Instagram addiction and depression and anxiety.
If you are showing any of the following signs, then you might just be addicted Instagram.
1. Posting Stresses You Out
We understand that the pressure to post the perfect Instagram post is real. Someone might think that it’s just about taking a good photo, but we all know that there’s so much more to it.
Once you’ve got the right image, you will still need to spend time editing, choosing the right filter, and then thinking about the caption.
Don’t even get us started on figuring out the right hashtags. There’s also the pressure of not posting to your feed, and potentially losing followers as a result.
We know that many of you are using Instagram to build your brand, but if posting to Instagram stresses you out, then there’s a good chance that you’re addicted.
2. You Take it Personally if Someone Doesn’t Comment or Follow You Back
There is no denying that our online lives can feel as real as our physical lives. This is because it is real.
Social media lets us make connections and form relationships that can often translate to the real world. However, not everything that happens online actually translates to our real lives.
If you are taking comments, likes, and follows personally, this could be because your Instagram addiction has caused you to lose your grip on what’s real, and what’s virtual.
Just because someone doesn’t like your content doesn’t mean that they don’t like you. It’s important to be able to differentiate this, and if you can’t right now, then it might be because you’re addicted.
3. You are Always Checking the Profiles of Those That You Hate
There are some Instagram profiles out there that you never comment on or like their pictures; you probably aren’t even following them.
However, every day without fail you manage to find your way to their profile. Why is this?
The logic in us would say that life is way too short to be looking at posts that make you feel bad.
However, if you are still feeling obligated to check the profiles of those that you don’t really like, then this could be a sign that you are addicted to the social media sharing app.
4. You Delete Posts That Don’t Get Enough Engagement
You go through a lot of stress, time and effort to put a post together, only to experience even more stress and anxiety when it actually gets uploaded.
We understand that there is immense pressure to reach your audience because a lot of business and personal brands depend on an effective social media strategy to do well.
However, the majority of us aren’t too old to remember when posting on Instagram was just for fun.
This is why it is essential that you don’t forget that your self-worth isn’t determined by the number of likes and comments you get on your posts.
Not every post is going to land well and if this isn’t something that you are OK with, then you might just be addicted.
5. You Can’t Finish a Task without Having a Scrolling Break
It could be cooking dinner or watching a show on Netflix. Maybe it’s even having a chat with your parents.
If the fear of missing out means that you can’t make it through one task without stopping to check your Instagram feed, then you might have an Instagram addiction.
The same applies if you can’t get through a meal or workout without posting about it. You’re not posting about your dinner or leg day because you want to, you are posting because you feel like you have to.
How to Stop Instagram Addiction in 2024
Just like any other addiction out there, the first step towards recovery is admitting that you’ve got an issue.
The reality is that addiction to Instagram is real, and there is nothing to feel ashamed about.
Check out our Instagram addiction tips below, and you will be on the road to recovery before you know it.
Separate Yourself from Your Phone
Yes, this might come across as obvious, but from our experience, it works. At first, you are going to want to check in with your phone.
You might even reach for it, before remembering that you’ve put it away.
However, if you put your device in another room, you will be able to focus on the task at present, and slowly overtime you will be able to forget about it completely.
Block or Unfollow Those Hate Follows
Remember those accounts we talked about above where you go to all the time?
If you want to form a balanced, good relationship with Instagram, but then you need to stop checking the profiles of people that you don’t like.
These accounts might belong to celebrities, an ex, or that girl in high school that you were friends with but had a big falling out with.
However it is, make sure that you unfollow or block all of these profiles from your life, so that you can be free from negative feelings.
Try a Digital Detox with Your Friends
If you are going to successfully beat your addiction to Instagram, then you are going to need a support system.
There’s a good chance that there are other people close to you that are struggling with the same thing.
If this is the case, open up to them, and start to figure out how you can all do an Instagram detox together.
This could even be in the form of a night out where you leave your phones at home. This could be a great way to beat your Instagram addiction.
Plan How You Will Spend Your Time
We are so used to multitasking these days that it can actually be difficult to just exist in the present moment.
Before you start cutting down on your Instagram addiction, think about how you’re going to spend your time instead. What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try?
Maybe it’s time that you finally take up crosswords, or baking.
You are much more likely to beat your Instagram addiction if you’ve got something that can keep your mind occupied.
Set Time Limits
Now, unless you are someone who has a lot of discipline, we aren’t expecting you to quit Instagram cold turkey.
When the time comes to start using Instagram again, we recommend that you set a daily limit for yourself and use a physical timer so that you can stick to this limit.
Do a bit of research around the best time to be on the app, so that you can engage with your followers when you’re on there and as a result, you will end up having a healthier relationship with Instagram, and you will enjoy higher quality time when you’re on there.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to put the days of mindlessly going through your feed behind you.
How Instagram Can Help You with Your Addiction
As well as the tips that we have laid out above around your Instagram addiction, Instagram and Facebook have recently announced a set of tools to help users manage the time they spend on their apps.
They haven’t launched all of these features yet, but let’s go through a few that you can watch out for.
Activity Dashboard
The activity dashboard is located in settings, and this feature is going to show you how much time you spend on the app.
Daily Usage Reminder
With this feature, you can set how much time you want to spend on the app every day, and once this time is up, Instagram will send you a notification.
Mute Notifications
If you don’t want to be looking at your phone every five minutes, then you can always mute notifications, and only check Instagram when you have scheduled to.
Life Beyond an Instagram Addiction
We want you to have a balanced and good relationship with Instagram, so let us help you with your Instagram addiction.
If you use a genuine Instagram growth service you will be provided with a personalized account manager that can help you grow your Instagram with organic followers, so that you can ultimately spend less time on your Instagram profile, and more time creating content that you are really passionate about.
We hope you found our guide on how to stop Instagram addiction and other tips useful.