Social media...

I had a notice from Instagram today (on the app, it was official, not a scam) informing me that my account has been suspended and will be permanently deleted if my appeal fails. The appeal consisted of clicking the squares which had a bicycle in, confirming my email address and telephone number. That was it. 10 years of posting on my account (and I dread to imagine the time that took) potentially lost or saved by clicking 4 squares with a bicycle in.

No questions about who I was or what I did for a living or even why I use Instagram, just 4 squares to click and a potential 2 day wait to hear from them. My social media presence hanging by a fragile thread and at the whim of a technological programme.

I went from cross (spitting cross) to resigned in about 5 minutes. All I could think was, my goodness, we are all completely in their hands. I don't want to be in their hands any more. And then, well, if it does comes back and they decide I am not a threat to the wider public with my leather shears and crochet hook then I think I may just leave both meta platforms, Facebook & Instagram.

Imagine the number of shoes I could have made in the time it has taken to run 2 social media platforms. Imagine the amount of time in the future I can claim back before its lost by not continuing!

I abandoned my writing here on my blog for instagram and quickly became drawn into the nonsense of number chasing on the platform, its as if you are only as important as the number of your audience, yet I would rather have one interested person listening / reading than a hundred disinterested. It has been an interesting morning mulling it all over. I think I'm through with social media though. I feel rather 'lighter' even writing that statement.

I have popped a newsletter sign up on the website and also will do my best to always send out notices for shoe and bag updates, that way no one has to check social media on my account, just pop in occasionally and see whats new. Any smaller leathergoods and textiles will just be added to the relevant listings as I finish them as I don't want to bombard anyone with notices!

Right o, I'm off to pop the kettle on and celebrate my new freedom as well as making a list of all the products I can make for the shop instead of posting, falling down the instagram rabbit hole & reading comments :)