I'm tired of social media (and I think you are too)

If you saw my Instagram post yesterday, you know I'm tired.

Tired of the performance game. Tired of chasing trends. Tired of watching the algorithm reward frustration over craft.

But here's what I didn't say in that post.

Here's what I've been thinking about since I hit publish. And here's what the 50+ comments taught me about what we're all actually struggling with.

Because it's not just "social media is exhausting." That's the symptom.

The actual problem? We've accepted a system where the work matters less than the performance of caring about the work.

And I don't know how to fix that. But I'm trying to figure it out.

Here's what pisses me off about this.

Social media started as a way to share work. To connect with people. To build something real.

Now it's a performance game. And the rules keep changing.

Make carousels. No, make Reels. No, use this trending audio. No, post at 11am on Tuesdays. No, text-only posts are dead. No, wait, they're back.

And we're all scrambling to keep up. Because if you don't play the game, you disappear.

But here's the thing nobody says out loud:

The algorithm doesn't care about your work. It cares about engagement.

And those two things? Not always aligned.

The post that took you 4 hours to write? 100 likes.
The throwaway story you posted while waiting for coffee? 1,000 views.

It's not about quality. It's about what keeps people scrolling.

And that's fine for Instagram. That's literally their business model.

But for us? For photographers trying to build something that matters?

It's fucking exhausting.

Here's what I've realized.

I can't win this game. None of us can.

Because the rules aren't designed for us to win. They're designed to keep us playing.

And here's the fucked up part: The posts that perform best are the ones where I'm complaining about the platform.

Yesterday's Instagram post? More reach than anything I've posted in weeks.

I share my work? 200 likes.
I rant about social media? 5,000+ views.

So what does that tell us? That Instagram wants us frustrated. Because frustration equals engagement. And engagement equals they win.

Some days I just want to post photos. Show the work. Not have an opinion about everything.

But the algorithm doesn't reward "just the work." It rewards having something to say about the work.

And I'm tired of that trade-off.

So what are the actual alternatives?

A friend of mine keeps bringing up Pixelfed (the Fediverse photography platform).

I've looked at it. And honestly? I haven't seen the personality and the quality of work there that I want to see.

Maybe that's my problem. Maybe my expectations are too high. Maybe I'm looking for "Instagram but without the algorithm" when the reality is: if the platform is different, the content will be different too.

But here's what I know for sure:

I can't leave Instagram completely. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Because that's where the people are. That's where potential clients find me. That's where the reach is.

But I also can't let Instagram dictate everything I do.

So I'm trying to figure out the balance. Use it, but don't let it use me.

And I'm curious: What are YOU doing?

Because I don't think I'm the only one feeling this. The comments on yesterday's Instagram post proved that.

So here's what I actually want to know from you:

Tell me your experience:

1. Are you on alternative platforms?

If yes: Is it actually working for you? Or is it just "Instagram but quieter"?
If no: What's stopping you?

2. How do you balance "showing work" vs. "having opinions"?

Do you find yourself performing more than creating?
Or have you found a rhythm that feels sustainable?

3. What's one thing you've stopped doing because the algorithm wanted you to?

And did you lose anything real when you stopped? Or just metrics?

4. If you could rebuild social media from scratch for photographers, what would it look like?

Not realistic. Not "this will never happen." Just: what would you WANT?

Hit reply. Tell me.

I'm going to collect responses and share them in the next newsletter (anonymized if you want). Because I think we all need to know we're not alone in this.

Your work matters. Even when the algorithm doesn't reward it.

Your voice matters. Even when it's not "optimized."

You matter. Even when you're not going viral.

The old internet? We can't get it back.

But we can decide what we're willing to compromise. And what we're not.

Hugs,
Bjørn

For the hearts still beating—keep creating, keep pushing, keep giving a damn.

P.S. If this resonates, forward it to another photographer who's tired too. We're all trying to figure this out. Might as well figure it out together.