When I first got on social media nearly a decade ago, I focused on connecting with my family and real-life friends. I hate the drastic change since then to promoting ads, influencers, and livestreams so much that I’ve largely left these platforms.
There Are Endless Ads
I’m tired of constant ads on social media. Before, I could scroll through Instagram posts and stories to check up on friends without being bombarded with ads. Now, I get ads all the time. Sometimes these ads are a bit tricky, too, because they look like an actual Instagram story from someone I follow.
I left TikTok for a while as well, because for every other video, I was getting an ad for various products on the TikTok Shop. I’m so tired of seeing content for BeachWavers, slippers, and Dyson AirWrap dupes. Even though I kept manually adding feedback that I wasn’t interested in this type of content, TikTok eventually started showing it to me again.
Even Snapchat is not immune to ads. I used to watch different pop culture or makeup videos on Snapchat, but the constant, unskippable ads made me leave Snapchat for Locket instead.
Staged/Fake Content Is a Problem
Facebook and Snapchat are the worst offenders when it comes to staged and fake content. During my yearly Facebook check, I always get recommended 20-minute-long clickbait videos that attempt to be inspirational, but often are too long and painfully staged.
There are also lots of cooking videos that have to be rage bait (content that’s intended to infuriate others to get engagement). I’ve seen multiple versions of the viral oven pasta bake on Snapchat where people throw uncooked macaroni, two blocks of Velveeta cheese, milk, and some seasoning into the oven. Remember when Snapchat was just a simple platform with the sole purpose of sending daily photos to your friends? Those were the days.
I Constantly See Influencer Content
On top of constant ads, I find that when I go to the explore pages on Instagram or TikTok, I mostly see influencer content. I don’t have a problem with influencing as a side hustle or full-time job, but I do take issue when the social media platforms I do use mainly show me influencers posting product reviews, ads, or documenting all-expenses-paid vacations in exchange for a video.
I’m not among their target audience because the content does not relate to my interests in the slightest. I don’t mind seeing a review of a brand-new makeup product here and there, but when it’s all I see, I’m ready to cut my losses and leave the platform for good.
Posts From My Friends and Family Aren’t Prioritized
When I open up Instagram, instead of seeing posts from my friends or family, I’m met with a long line of celebrity content. It seems like celebrity content is prioritized at the top of my feed, even though I follow very few of these accounts. The same issue occurs when I try to view stories on Instagram.
I initially downloaded these social media platforms to keep up with friends I don’t see every day, but it’s like digging for a needle in a haystack trying to search for content posted by my friends. I don’t like to spend much time on social media, either, so I typically just leave the app instead of sticking around and searching for what I initially wanted to see.
There Are Too Many Strange Lives
TikTok’s pivot to promoting live streams was a big reason why I stopped my hour-long scrolls on the app. Some may argue that TikTok Lives are ruining the app.
Back when I was a frequent TikTok user, I saw some of the strangest livestreams. A notable livestream featured a person meticulously pulling pieces of eggshell off of an egg without breaking the egg’s membrane. Another strange live showed a person putting a ton of rubber bands around a watermelon in an attempt to get the fruit to explode.
These lives had tens of thousands of viewers at any given time, with active chats and lots of virtual gifts. Even though I kept telling the app I wasn’t interested in this content, I still see it often while scrolling.
Apps Keep Pushing Paid Subscriptions
Finally, a lot of social media apps are now pushing paid subscriptions to unlock extra features or remove ads. A subscription to Snapchat Plus grants users a mostly ad-free experience with profile badges and new customization options for $40 per year. At that rate, I’m good with sticking to sending photos over text, email, or using a new app like Locket.
Meta also launched a subscription that limits ads on the platform throughout Europe, but it doesn’t seem like a Meta subscription is worth it, either. Even if this does become available in the US, I’m not paying to limit ads on Instagram and Facebook when I barely use those sites anymore. I left X/Twitter long before the launch of X Premium, a subscription that provides users with a verified checkmark to prioritize their replies and remove ads.
Social media has changed so much over the past decade. In the 2010s, social media was free, with limited ads, and acted a place to connect with friends and family. I barely recognize platforms like Facebook and Instagram anymore as they’ve pivoted to prioritizing influencer content, ads, and paid subscriptions.
