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Instagram, was launched in 2010 as a photo sharing app by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. It was acquired in 2012 by Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, now Meta. With over 2 billion users, Instagram is now the 4th largest social media application in the world. When it comes to social media apps, it's no secret that they can be super toxic. In recent times, more and more users have started deleting the Instagram app, because of negative mental health effects it can create for some. In this post, I share the 8 reasons why Instagram is toxic for many people, as well as why I stopped using the Instagram app. This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 8 Reasons Why Instagram is Toxic 1. Fear of Missing Out A big part of the culture on Instagram, is showing off the best aspects of your life. Whether if it's traveling, meeting a celebrity or attending an exclusive event, Instagram can cause major FOMO. When someone shares an Instagram post or an Instagram story, they're showcasing the most exciting part of their day. As a user, this can make you feel like you're not doing enough or as if you're missing out. As someone who has used Instagram since I was a teenager, I've often found myself affected by this. Even when I'd been living a pretty normal and happy life, I'd feel like I wasn't accomplishing enough and have struggled with FOMO. Thinking about how this affected negatively over the years, I can imagine the negative impact Instagram can have on impressionable teenagers and young adults. 2. Addictiveness Like many social media sites, Instagram is extremely addictive. If you're someone who is constantly scrolling, watching videos and watching Instagram Stories, then you're probably addicted to Instagram. Over the past few years, social media apps like TikTok, Facebook and Instagram have become more and more addictive. I've noticed many people in my life spend countless hours in the virtual world on social media. This includes kids, teens and even adults. It's important to limit your screen time on social media so you can enjoy real life. In fact, my mother now has a timer set for her TikTok screen time to 15 minutes a day. 3. Edited and Filtered Photos It's no secret that many people have negative body image issues, and Instagram hasn't helped. The biggest issue with Instagram, is that many people's images have filters and are edited. Seeing edited photos on Instagram can give users a false sense of reality. Many young women and men develop insecurities and can feel bad about their physical appearance. This is one of the reasons why Instagram is so toxic and can negatively impact teen girls and guys. 4. Endless Scrolling A big part of Instagram is scrolling, looking at pictures, videos and stories. Many users find themselves endlessly scrolling and really not getting much out of it. I realized that I was wasting tons of time on Instagram, when I would scroll for hours a day and never remember what I saw. It was almost hypnotizing. It can be very easy to be sucked into the world of Instagram. While it's ok to escape for a few minutes and relax if you enjoy it, it's important to stop the endless scrolling. 5. Fuels Insecurities Seeing celebrities and influencers on Instagram, can create unrealistic standards of beauty, wealth and lifestyle. Using social media on a daily basis, can make make people feel insecure and like they're not good enough. Instagram posts, reels and stories are meant to look amazing and inspirational, but can leave viewers feeling insecure about their own lives. This is super toxic because it gives impressionable users a false sense of reality, which can result in lower self-esteem and insecurities. 6. Toxic Comments One of the reasons why Instagram is a toxic social media app, is because of the mean and toxic comments. The comment section on Instagram is unfortunately filled with trolls and with people promoting scams. It just isn't healthy to have mean comments either directed at you or even being exposed to them as "normal". When it comes to social media apps, one of the worst places to be is the comment section on Instagram. 7. Fake Profiles On Instagram, there are tons of fake profiles who are either out to scam or troll other users. If you've ever used Instagram, then you've probably received messages from fake profiles. The issue with fake profiles is that some users do not realize they're getting catfished. This can be especially harmful and dangerous to younger Instagram users. 8. Mental Health Effects There have been studies which show that Instagram can create harmful mental health effects in some peopole. Harmful effects of Instagram include links to depression, self-esteem issues and social anxiety. Many Instagram users find that Instagram does more harm than good to their mental health. Instagram can be problematic, especially for young people who suffer with mental health issues. If you're someone who notices Instagram makes you feel bad about yourself, the best thing you can do is uninstall the app. 9. Instagram Reels Instagram Reels are highly addictive and can be incredibly toxic. When scrolling on Instagram Reels, the algorithm will feed you a mix of informational, entertainment, and toxic content that can be upsetting. The main purpose of Instagram feeding you toxic content is so you will engage with the videos and spend more time on the app. This can lead to users arguing in the comment sections and spending more time scrolling instead of living life normally. I try to avoid short-form content like TikTok videos, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram reels because I know how addictive they can be. 10. Instagram is Not Real Life I know firsthand how easy it can be to get caught up in the world of social media. However, it's important to remember that Instagram is not real life. If scrolling on Instagram makes you feel insecure, upset, or like you're not good enough, then it's a good idea to delete the app. The last thing you want is your day ruined by a phone app. Instead of scrolling on Instagram, step outside and live in the real world. Surrounding yourself with good friends will make you feel happier, and it is way more productive. Why I Stopped Using Instagram A few months ago, I decided to delete Instagram off my phone. While I still have my Instagram account, deleting the app from my phone was a game changer. Ever since I deleted my Instagram app, I realized the negative effects it had on me and how much happier I am without easy access to it. Here are the reasons why I deleted the Instagram app from my phone: It Was a Distraction One of the main reasons why I deleted Instagram from my phone, is because I found the app extremely distracting. Instead of working, I would get sucked into my phone and find myself scrolling on Instagram. It can be very easy to get distracted by social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Snapchat. If you find that going on social media is getting in the way of your work, relationships or friendships, it's best to cut down the amount of time you spend scrolling. I Would Compare Myself to Others Another reason why I stopped using Instagram is because I found myself constantly comparing myself to others. This is something many young people do, especially in high school and college. Whether if it was someone more successful or more fortunate, I would often find myself comparing my life to other Instagram users. At a certain point, I realized that Instagram was doing more harm than good for me. Now that I've uninstalled Instagram from my iPhone, I can say that I'm much happier and way more focused on things that matter. In the past, I was following people that really weren't relevant in my life, and I no longer do that. It Became Addictive As someone who has been on social media since I was 12, and has used Instagram since I was 14, I admit that I was addicted to this social media app. Whether if it was in class, at home or with friends, I would often find myself scrolling on Instagram. I would be with my friends and instead of talking, I would scrolling on social media. It seems so ridiculous to me now. This was a big problem, because I realized I was sadly more interested in the virtual world, then I was in the real world. My Time Is Better Spent in Other Places Now that the Instagram app is off of my phone, I can say that my time is better spent in other places. Instead of mindlessly scrolling on Instagram for hours a day, I can focus on myself, my family and my friends. As much as scrolling on Instagram can give a temporary rush of dopamine, it doesn't compare to actually hanging out with my friends. If you're someone who spends hours a day on Instagram or any social media app, try replacing your time on social media with good habits. Working out, spending time with family and working have made me feel happier and more accomplished than Instagram has ever made me. Related & Popular Posts: Are Dating Apps Toxic? What You Should Know About Online Dating Why College is Toxic – 10 Reasons By a Recent Graduate Is TikTok a Toxic Social Media App? Best Shoes for Teenage Guys Best Brands For Men in Their 20s and 30s Final Thoughts on Why Instagram is Toxic Whether if you enjoy using the Instagram or not, it's important to realize the negative effects it can have on your mental health. As someone who has used Instagram since I was 14, I am happy that I took a break from this social media app. If you've ever felt like Instagram makes you feel insecure, depressed or causes self-esteem issues, it may be a good idea to take a break. Getting off Instagram will make you enjoy and appreciate the real world more. In this post, I shared the 8 reasons why Instagram is toxic and the reasons why I deleted Instagram. Do you believe Instagram is toxic? Please let me know in the comments below.