As Instagram founders quit the platform, should we log off for good too?

Words by Francesca Specter.

On average, we spend up to an hour scrolling our Insta-feeds every day. But, one expert says a break might be in order.

Founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger have left Instagram after eight years, it was reported today. In a blog post, Kevin wrote: “We’re planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again.

“Building new things requires that we step back, understand what inspires us and match that with what the world needs; that’s what we plan to do.”

As Instagram’s founders go off in search of “curiosity and creativity”, is it time for us to do the same?

For its one billion users, Instagram isn’t just an app, it’s a way of life.

We spend an average of 53 minutes a day scrolling the platform, according to data from SimilarWeb, sharing pictures of our meals, our clothes, our homes and our children – not to mention stalking friends and celebrities.

Having personally taken a two year long (and counting) break from Instagram, founder Kevin’s words resonate with my own reasons for leaving.

I found myself only being “curious” about something insofar as it was photo-worthy – like stopping to take a selfie in front of a view rather than admire it – while my own creativity and sense of self was stifled by constant comparisons to other people’s lives.

I’m by no means the only person to take a social media break. Clemmie Hooper, aka Mother of Daughters, took a three week break from Instagram in May this year. She disabled her account, which has 559K followers, in order to “recalibrate” and “re-set”.

In a post marking her return to Instagram in June, she wrote: “I found that there were too many tabs open in my head, too many unanswered messages and problems I felt responsible in fixing.

“It all got a bit too much so I took a break, just some time to recalibrate…I’m back, re-set and willing to give this another go.”

Others are signing off social media altogether as part of HuffPost UK 28 day Scroll Free campaign this month to coincide with the Royal Society For Public Health’s Scroll Free September campaign.

So would we all benefit from taking a break, too?

Instagram can have a negative effect on our mood and self esteem, says Meg Arroll, psychologist and author of The Shrinkology Solution.

“Research shows that even when we know pictures have been tweaked, the negative effects such as reductions in self-esteem and low mood still occur,” she tells Yahoo Style UK.

“Therefore, it’s good to have an Insta-break, especially if you find yourself checking the platform numerous times a day. Give yourself enough time to see if you start feeling differently without the constant stream of perfected images – akin to quitting booze for a month. So instead of ditching alcohol for Stoptober, remove the app from your phone for four weeks.”

“You might be shocked to find after an initial ‘withdrawal period’, you might be feeling calmer and a little happier in yourself.”

Of course, for many who love using Instagram, taking a full on break just isn’t realistic. Here are some things you could do instead to tweak your Insta-habits.

1. Download a social media monitoring app

Apps like Social Fever and Space allow users to track their social media browsing habits, so you can see exactly how much time you spent Insta-stalking last night.

You can also limit the amount of time you spent on specific apps, for instance giving yourself a half an hour window to catch up every day.

2. Don’t let yourself use it during work hours

Using Instagram in your spare time is one thing, but don’t let it affect your work performance. One study by Rebootonline.co.uk found workers spend three hours and five minutes of each working week on social media – switch your phone off and put it in your bag.

3. Ditto before you go to sleep

Screen time before bed has a major detrimental effect on your sleep duration and quality. Switch off at least an hour before you go to sleep.

4. Do a cull of your following

Developing a obsession with that #squatspo account? The rule of thumb is this: if an account makes you feel bad about yourself, you should unfollow it.

5. Have fun

Instagram is a platform to celebrate the good things in life, not take away from them. If you find yourself letting a delicious meal go cold because you’re too busy snapping away, reassess your priorities.

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