“What if Instagram went away tomorrow…” seems far too hypothetical a question for me. I haven’t gone a week without it since (at least) 2016 when I started running social media accounts for work.
I know it’s not the case for a lot of people, but Instagram has remained a mostly positive place of discovery. For the first time I’ve been curious about taking a break, but because of my work, I feel like I can’t.
It’smy personal social consumption that most informs how I help brands.
What would my ideas look like if I wasn’t swimming in other peoples content? Can I actually help grow your brand if I don’t know what sound is trending on Tiktok? Or what tired meme is being reiterated to its assured irrelevance this week?
I asked my friends that work in social if they’ve ever taken a break from instagram. These were their answers:
“Oh 100% cannot because of work, which sucks.”
“No but I dream about it.”
“No. I really want to but idk how that would even look.”
“I don’t really think that I have minus taking a little break during the holiday season.”
Would my ideas be more original and inventive if I had months to bask in long-form inspiration. OR… do brands need pop culture references and graphic designers with quick turn around to stay relevant?
I can’t scroll without seeing someone announcing the start of their ‘social media break’ or their inevitable return. The announcement itself, confirming our collective fear of being forgotten. A fear very real for both businesses and people.
What happens if I don’t post? What happens if a brand doesn’t post?
If a tree falls in the forrest, and no one’s there to hear it...
