I’ve been thinking a lot about social media boundaries.
Why? Because Instagram is weird. And in early 2022, I started to feel … weird … about my presence on it. I spent a lot of time on the platform, and while I loved connecting with like-minded business owners, showing up every day with my business goals, successes, downfalls, to-do lists, struggles (not to mention my family) felt, well, strange.
And that makes sense, because research shows that social media can (and likely does) have a negative impact on our mental health. Remember that whistleblowing Wall Street Journal article that reported Facebook knows just how toxic its family of apps are for mental health?
Well, I finally started to feel the effects of that toxicity last year. And as I waded through my feelings about it, two words kept coming to mind: “Tired” and “boundaries.”
I was tired of the daily obligation to “show up,” and I felt a pull to set firmer boundaries–on social media and in business. I suddenly felt anxious about something that before came so naturally to me.
Around this time, I was also diagnosed with ADHD and Level 1 Autism. And while the verdict is still out on that last diagnosis (I’m seeking a second opinion), I knew I needed break.
So, instead of reaching for a scalpel (like I would normally do) I grabbed the butcher knife: I stopped posting to Instagram (except for the occasional dog photo) and I completely cut out services that had me living on the app (Instagram management and Instagram content planning).
Basically, I went from full time content manager, writer, and strategist to (very) part time content writer.
That was 8 months ago. And now that I’m ready to start using Instagram for my business again, I need to come up with social media and business boundaries that work for me and my family.
This is an accountability exercise for me, but I hope it also helps you think about what social media boundaries you should implement, too!
So, keep reading to learn 3 Instagram boundaries I plan to implement moving forward.
Here for the Time Limits
Did you know that the average person spends 8 months of their life on Instagram, according to an October, 2022 article from BusinessDIT ? I’d argue that it’s significantly more for some users.
Before 2022, I spent too much time not only posting to Instagram, but also checking it. I’m embarrassed to say this, but it became a compulsion.
I don’t know how many hours I spent on my phone, but I can tell you it wasn’t healthy.
This time around, I plan to set time limits. I want to also make it a goal to not check social media after 8 p.m. Help me stick to it, please!
Kids on My Socials? Nope.
While every family is different, and while every parent has varying values when it comes to what they put online, I’ve decided to no longer share my kids publicly online.
For one, there are a ton of creeps.
Secondly, I’ve done a lot of research on informed consent and how children cannot possibly fathom what it means to have their images and stories shared online day in and day out.
It’s hard to truly conceptualize what it means to go viral, and while that’s never been a goal of mine, that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. I don’t want my kids being introduced to that many strangers at this young of an age.
I do have a “friends only” list for Instagram stories, but I honestly don’t know that I’ll share them there, either.
This article from Family Education shares the potential pitfalls and dangers of sharing your kids online. Check it out here.
(And if you feel comfortable sharing your kids online, hear me out: this is not a judgment. I’m just sharing what I personally feel comfortable with!)
Follower Count? Who’s She?
When I first started my business, I was *very* focused on growing my Instagram following. The more the merrier was my motto!
Since I took a break in summer of 2022, I removed hundreds of followers and have paid much closer attention to who follows me.
So while other accounts are aiming for growth, right now, I’d like to limit my following to less than 2K.
I know it sounds crazy! And I might shift priorities in the future. But right now, I want a small, genuine community of followers that I can actually connect with.
Social Media Boundaries: Final Thoughts
So why did I share this with you? I want you to feel empowered to create your own boundaries so that you can feel good about your online presence and the time you spend on social media.
Because like it or not, it does have an effect on our mental health, our ability to create real relationships, and more.
Since I scaled back from Instagram and business, I’ve read more books, taken on more hobbies, and have spent more time with my family.
I have LOVED the last few months, and I don’t want that to change.
So my hope is that these boundaries give me the best of both worlds: a way to connect with you on social media without sacrificing my personal time and privacy.
So, please hold me accountable. If you see me spending too much time on the platform, call me out!
Next month, I’ll share my social media goals for the next few months, so stay tuned!
And tell me: what are your social media boundaries? Let’s talk about it!
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