Hello,

You're probably here because I put up a post on my Instagram about how I'm not going to be around there for a while. Here's a short Q&A thing to hopefully explain things.

If you just want to talk with me

I'm not going to be on Instagram. I won't check the Instagram messages (by the way, the privacy policy says they can read the messages...). You can find me still on the following platforms:

• Signal - I'd prefer if we talk there. If you've got my phone number, you can talk to me on Signal.
• WhatsApp - I prefer this if Signal can't be used. It uses Signal's underlying protocol at least. Same as above for how you can find me there.
• Discord - Those who have me on Discord, ping me there.
• Steam - Yes! Steam has a message client! I probably won't check it too often but it'll pop up when I go to play another game of Cities Skylines or something...
• Mastodon - I'll probably post a bit on there still. It's a public feed so it's only general things I'm happy publicly sharing. I can be found at @technicalotter@glammr.us.
• E-Mail - If you somehow have me on Instagram and don't have my phone number, head over to the contact page on this site. It's got an e-mail address in there you can contact me via.

The Questions/Why

Why do this? In short, I'm kind of sick of how easy it is to get lost in a stream of junk on Instagram. Yeah it's funny but I have a PhD to do, a huge pile of books to read for pleasure and enough games on Steam to keep me occupied for the rest of this decade (at least). Instagram doesn't need to be part of it and I'm fed up of it being on my phone, nagging me.

I'm also sick of the phone in general. Everything is on it. Everything is mediated through it. It can fuck right off. I've also removed my podcasts and music from my phone and instead am going to try just using my iPod Mini (though the battery probably needs replacing in it... again...) to enjoy that more and stop just aimlessly listening to the same few podcasts on loop. The games have also gone. At some point I want to write a longer blog post about this whole experience and my feelings towards "tech".

Distractions and focus

Ultimately this also links back to my more fundamental worries about my ability to focus on what I've got to do. I can be easily distracted. I'm not (diagnosed) ADHD, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a touch of it. Instagram is a very easy distraction machine.

What's super frustrating is when I get into a book, into writing or similar, I quite enjoy it and actually feel like I'm doing something with my time. It feels enjoyable and liberating. Instagram is a millstone that keeps nagging at me "just look! one more thing!" and keeps me from what I enjoy the most.

Personal Connection

Instagram feels impersonal. Yeah we can bat reels back and fourth and ooo it's fun and silly, but is it actually us? Or is it the algorithmic version of ourselves talking? I have many fears about LLM's, algorithms and machines just consuming life. I've seen how things like GPT have actively made peoples lives worse (like sending them a dumb ass route that didn't actually go where they wanted on the Tube).

I find actually talking with friends, meeting up in person with them for a coffee or a beer and playing video games with them much more fun and enjoyable. It's the human-human connections that make life worthwhile, not the slop from the algorithms.

Please don't take this as me blaming you, I am not. You are as much a victim as I am to this. These are machines that are perfectly crafted to steal our attention and ensure we are never bored. It's quite sad, really.

In Summary

I won't be on Instagram for a while, so shoot me a message and let's go for a coffee some time soon. I'd rather that than remaining locked in a room scrolling on the little slab of glass.

If you want a great watch that pushed me into this, watch Eddy Burback's and Reject Convenience's videos. I've had this on my mind for ages, and they've tipped me over the edge to do this.

I'll catch you someplace soon,

- Ela