My problem with Social Media

an article about mental health, perfectionism and hyper self critical thinking. don't read when you don't care. First of all this article should not bash anyone for consuming reels and tiktoks, it just wants to showcase my personal experience with social media over the years and especially the times without. My humble goal with this story is to inspire people and get them to consume more consciously and self aware. Let me start with the root problem: “Social Media“ I think we can all agree that social media, especially Instagram is a platform where you share your best experiences, your best work, your best moments and really only the best of your life. Beautiful on one hand side and cruel on the other.

Why?

Let me tell you about my experience with social media consumption as a so called "Creator". To be completely honest I too didn’t see Social Media as a threat in a long time! I enjoyed being surrounded by like minded people, seeing their work and get inspired from time to time (plus all the memes I send with my friends are always good for a laugh).

Well but like in every good story there has to be a hook. My hook was 4 weeks ago, where I found myself in a mental state of constant overstimulation, FOMO and creative blockage.

Why?

Because:

• I compared myself waaay too much to other creators and production companies

• I had unrealistic expectations of myself as a photographer

• Most of the posts I save I never look back on afterwards

• I don't really learn something new, I rather waste time
  

Don't get me wrong, social media can still be helpful to find inspiration plus comparing your work to others can be good to get more creative -- but all to a certain extend.

Over the course of the last 3 years I got more and more frustrated with my own work as a photographer simply because I thought I wasn't there where I should be. (But most of the time you are exactly there where you're supposed to be!) The thing that really got me devastated was the sheer amount of high quality photo and video productions I also would like to reach as a one person photographer, often forgetting that most of these productions...

• A: Cost a lot of money and resources

• B: Require lots of planning and background work

• C: Only look this professional because there is a whole dedicated team behind it
  

This cycle of being faced with beautifully curated content every time you open your phone really had gotten to the point that I completely neglected what I've reached so far and that I have to go my own way, make my own decisions and get better, all in my own pace. The point I realized that, was the time I knew I had to change something--I had to delete Instagram and see how I change!

Now to the second part of the story_ life without Instagram

You might think I am lying when I say this but it was really refreshing to break the pattern. Not activating the App every few minutes to check if something new was happening (fuck fomo). Feeling energized and not overstimulated even at the end of a hard day.

A clear head that could concentrate for many hours, find creative ideas and plan stuff for the future.

I used Instagram in my browser only for messaging people.

Overall it was a great experience and in that time I really felt like I got something done

(which I did) and I can't wait to take a pause again!

• I learned that social media is not that important as I thought it was!

  • what I mean by that:

    it does not make a difference if you miss something unimportant like seeing brainrot reels or another dude drifting his GT3 RS blasting Taylor Swift out of his speakers

  • nobody cares about you when you don't constantly post and keep people engaged (established creators excluded)

    
    

  I found out what I really want and something that is far more rewarding than short dopamine shots

"Building something sustainable, with focus, passion and precision"

Thinking of not being good enough and having high expectations of oneself at the same time is a vicious cycle I want to break one day and sadly part of the reason I don’t post too often. When you have such high expectations of yourself, that everyone who sees your piece of content has to like it and if that is not the case you are disappointed, you start doubting yourself and strive for perfection, overengineer and never really make steps forward. My Conclusion: PERFECTIONISM is the PARASITE of PRODUCTIVITY

A real life is better than a reel life.

Social media only shows one side of the medal. It doesn't show the pain and struggles one has to overcome in order to be successful.

Keep pushing and make yourself proud.

Go your own way (like Fleetwood Mac)

PN

pic: A wie Auto at Heizr Industries 2025

(no help of AI)