This is going to sound like the kind of complaint that starts with “back in my day,” so let’s just get that out of the way.
Those who know me know I don’t love change, especially when the old thing worked just fine.
There was a time when Instagram felt simple. You posted a photo. People who followed you actually saw it. If they liked it, they tapped like. Everyone went about their day.
No pressure to perform. No expectation to entertain. No need to turn dinner into a short-form action movie.
That version of Instagram was why I joined over twelve years ago.
When Instagram Rewarded Photos, Not Effort
For years, my account had a small but genuinely engaged following. Nothing viral. Nothing strategic. Just people who liked photos tied loosely to parenting, but let’s be honest, mostly Big Green Egg related.
And honestly, I loved that.
While I was building a brand for the Like a Dad blog, I wasn’t really chasing growth. I was just… posting photos and enjoying the ride.
Which, on a photo app, felt reasonable at the time.
It was a step up from Facebook, where you mostly interacted with your parents, aunts, and uncles.
Then Things Started Moving. Literally.
Instagram didn’t suddenly flip a switch. It crept.
Stories showed up. Sure, okay. Video became more important. Fine. Then, Reels quietly took over everything.
At some point, posting a still image became like bringing a book to a party where everyone else is watching TikTok on full volume.
Still photos of food were no longer enough to excite anyone.
Now they need motion, hands, cuts, drips, and steam rising on command. If you had told me 25 years ago, when I was taking television broadcasting in school, that jump cuts would become a stylistic feature instead of a mistake, I would have laughed.
And look, I get it. Video performs better. Attention spans are shorter. Platforms evolve.
But none of that makes me want to film my dinner from three angles. I’ve tried, and in my opinion, it sucks the joy out of cooking. I give high praise to those who film, edit, and craft amazing cooking videos. It’s a lot of work, and you still have to do the actual cooking part.
Watching a Ten-Year Account Slowly Fade
Over the years, I admit my interest dropped. Some reliable content options went away (teenagers not wanting photos posted), and I grew bored of posting for the sake of it.
Still, I was surprised to see the likes and comments dry up when I did post something. My account wasn’t restricted. There was no ban. No warning. The same people still follow me.
Engagement just… declined.
Not because the photos got worse, but because Instagram decided that photos aren’t the point anymore. The platform now rewards watch time, trends, and constant output.
If you don’t adapt, your content doesn’t get pushed. If you don’t perform, you don’t exist.
Very efficient. Not very cozy.
The Other Side of the Coin
There’s another part of this I haven’t mentioned yet, and it’s less flattering.
I don’t love what Instagram has turned me into as a consumer either.
I open the app intending to check a couple of posts and suddenly ten minutes are gone, filled with cooking videos I didn’t ask for, trends I won’t remember, and an endless stream of “just one more” Reels.
It’s impressive. It’s effective. And I’m tired of it.
The same system that rewards constant motion when you post also demands constant attention when you scroll. Nothing settles. Nothing ends. You just keep going.
And the more time I spend scrolling, the less I want to create anything at all.
That might be the most honest reason I’ve started stepping back.
Realizing This Is, in Fact, a “Me” Problem
At some point, I had to admit the obvious:
Instagram didn’t betray me. I just don’t like what it’s become.
I like still images. I like slow posting. I like not feeling obligated to entertain strangers.
Which puts me firmly in “old man yelling at clouds” territory. I accept that.
Moving on Without Dramatically Logging Off
I still enjoy posting photos, and I probably always will. I’m just less interested in forcing that enjoyment through a system built for something else.
So I’m shifting my energy.
My longer thoughts live on my blog now. Instagram is for the occasional photo I feel like sharing. If it gets likes, great. If not, also fine.
I’m not quitting Instagram. I’m just… no longer auditioning for it.
The Quiet Truth
Instagram changed. I didn’t keep up. And I’m oddly at peace with that.
Sometimes liking things the old way isn’t nostalgia. It’s a preference.
And sometimes moving on doesn’t require an announcement. It just requires letting go of the idea that everything has to evolve with you.
I still invite you to follow my feed. See you soon.
