I just deleted my Instagram account.

[Coventina]

I should have done it sooner, but I'm glad I did it.

I opened the account shortly before it was acquired by "Meta." Zuckerbeast's company.

I opened it to promote my Study Abroad program to Italy.

Well, lately I've been encountering more and more ugly hate speech on the platform: stuff like the "n" word, like the actual word, calling people "dirty jews" etc.

I report them, and then I get notified that they don't violate community standards. I mean, if the "n" word doesn't violate your "community standards" that just means you have NO standards.

I cannot participate in a platform that allows that.

So, I deleted it.

Suck it, Zuck.

[TheProle]

1. A principled stand.

[Bluestocking]

2. I only have a DU account

Why support the oligarchs who support Trump?

[Coventina]

3. I feel the same, and I've resisted all other socials (except DU)

As educators though, we are heavily pressured to "advertise" on social media.
That's why I opened the Insta in the first place.
I always felt conflicted about it, though.

The recent spate of hate speech made the decision much easier.

If my school gives me guff, they really can't do anything, because there's nothing in my contract that requires me to do social media.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Same Here

I opened a FB account in 2008, because my wife had a 40th grade school reunion coming up and that was the sole means of planning & communication.
Immediately I started seeing things I found annoying.
After that reunion, I never signed in again.
I don't feel I've missed anything by avoiding social media.

[Skittles]

7. people don't care

as long as it is easier to "keep up with friends and family" they don't give a fuck that they're supporting fascism

[Goonch]

4. ;-{)

[Blue Owl]

5. Fuck Zuckerberg and every other billionaire

[LoisB]

8. That is disgusting. I have never been to/on Instagram and I am very glad of that. Civility has

left the building, apparently.

[AllaN01Bear]

9. walked away from youtbe and meta. :)

i get my news from here and meet some really greaet folk.

[Keepthesoulalive]

10. Thank you

They are nothing more than mouthpieces for the current government. I wish more people had your courage.

[Cha]

11. Wow... whoa.. Racist Assholes..

Last edited Thu Aug 14, 2025, 09:17 PM - Edit history (1)

Fuckerberg ain't nothing but a Traitor to the USA.. he's Unamerican.

Good on you, Coventina.. I would have dropped it, too, if I belonged.

[ancianita]

12. Good for you.

On Jan 20 I deleted my FB account and downloaded ten years of all my posts and document files (which leaves 8 years of previous posts, but so what) Haven't missed it for a minute.

[txwhitedove]

13. Then yes, you should delete it. I love Instagram and usually only see positive and/or Democratic

leaning posts.

[Coventina]

14. My problem was reading comments.

There was a post by a black woman with video and commentary on a situation where a white man was harassing her.

She was called the "n" word by multiple people, and basically said it was her fault for existing.

The "dirty jews" comment was also a response to a post, but it was months ago, now and I don't remember the details.

[Scrivener7]

31. Yes, but you are aware the platform allows that kind of

hate speech, whether you see it or not.

[txwhitedove]

34. Allow? It happens, and i said i understand why that subcription would be deleted.

[Upjumpdadebil]

15. Brava!

I looked just last week at Instagram again.
It was rather sad to see vibrant peeps I know kinda just seemingly "waiting" for What??? No vibrancy or energy so I bailed once again.

Same w/facebook. Happy your meal turned out lovely enough to photograph but jeez ...maybe take a walk or read a book was my general reaction.

So I'm kinda just saying TY "Coventina" for kinda confirming that one can "do better" in terms of promoting what we as individuals feel is important enuf to share.

[Coventina]

36. Welcome to DU!

[soldierant]

16. You might want to look into Substack if you have specialized information to get out.

It's not social media, and it's not exactly a blog sponsor either, It does require you to offer subscription plans, but that should (possibly must) include a free subscription plan, and all of my subscriptions are free ones. Paid subscribers get to see stuff that I don't, but for my needs, that's OK. When I started subscribing to Substack authors with Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance, and Steve Schmidt, I said that soon everyone would be on Substack and it would likely replace the mainstream media. Since then I've seen lots of people and organizations come on board - recently "Jeopardy" came on board with it - that isn't "everyone," but it is getting closer.

[Coventina]

17. Thank you! I'll look into this!

[beaglelover]

18. I never signed up for one. I still use Facebook quite a bit.

[LiberalArkie]

19. The secret is to Unfollow. The algorithm will take not and not send that type to you,

Blocking will just let a human who may or may not feel like you do..

[damifino10]

20. X-plode

I don't understand the huge number of folks on the DU platform still using X/tweet. Every time the click trick occurs, it's money in an asshole pocket.
PLEASE STOP USING X

[womanofthehills]

21. Over 100 million Americans are on X/Twitter

Most are under 45 years old. As of now 52% are Dems (used to be almost 75% in past)

Do you really want millions of young people to only be influenced by Republicans????

[SleeplessinSoCal]

22. My algorithm shows babies, music, and Indivisible vids.

I totally enjoy it as a happy space. You have to follow fun stuff to goose your algorithm.

[Hornedfrog2000]

25. It literally brainwashes you, and is a huge reason

Donald trump is president. Your "algorithm" could be called your manipualtion feed, etc. It shapes your perception.

[Scrivener7]

32. But you know they allow hate speech.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

37. There is hate speech everywhere.

My feed doesn't include it as I mostly am enjoying photos and videos of people like John Mullaney and Amy Sedaris. People I like in the arts. I.e. Eric Whitacre, composer conductor, Lin Manuel Miranda, Paul McCartney and Pink.


And lots of babies.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMvFIULv9Ff/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[erodriguez]

38. I posted a thread about deleting Facebook and Twitter during the election

and got a lot of posts like the above. So many people said I'm just not using it right.

These people don't seem to understand they are the product and these companies don't give a fuck about their safety or sanity.or that using these platforms is a big reason why we are in position we are in today.

[txwhitedove]

44. Agree. Ive found an enormous number of like minded people from around the world and posts

like @cultivatinglegacy who does a striking current news recap from his animal sheep farm: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNX-fCGtEgZ/?igsh=eG5tM2I0dHE1dno4imal
Or the prolific music of Jesse Welles, now selling out concerts in NYC and around the country, dare I say the Dylan of this moment in time: wellesmusic. Listen to Bugs for a catchy funny ditty, but then listen to Red for music and relevance for today.

I fully understand how frustrating it would get if I tried a serious post, but I watch, listen, repost, and only rarely posts in safe threads.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

47. I never post.

I just watch very entertaining posts fly by. Like this odd character from Finland..

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMz2mImNBRA/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And my all time fave kid...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNYOwwbNOL4/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[txwhitedove]

48. Ha, I've seen the funny lady. My grown kids and i have fun sending silly stuff to each other.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

50. just had this pop up.

Choir conductor came up with a novel version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow...
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKJrf2EMTaH/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[txwhitedove]

51. Wow, ethereal, like rain. Would take a lot of practice.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

52. Math in the music.

There's a Bach chorale that has been altered similarly. Very cool.

Immortal Bach - komm Susser tod...

[Luciferous]

23. Never did Instagram or Facebook

[Hornedfrog2000]

24. Youll be happier

Its complete nonsense brainwashing anyway

[madaboutharry]

26. I reported a post in which someone called a Jewish person a K*ke.

I reported it and I got back a message that it “didn’t violate community standards.” I still can’t get over it.

[Bread and Circuses]

27. yeah! I deleted Facebook too

[Lucky Luciano]

28. I think the right solution re social media is

…to delete mobile apps and only login with a desktop. For me, that’s a much higher bar to login and you can maintain your contacts that way. It also cuts usage by over 99% at least for me as I don’t use a non work desktop very often…and when I do, it takes more effort to login rather than mindlessly pushing a button.

[live love laugh]

29. But if you post Melania is porn, you violate community standards. Zuckerberg is one of "them".

I hold my nose and go on IG because of my hobbies. I don’t post unless it’s to respond to someone else’s but I’m on the verge of also shutting down social media because I heard somewhere today that they’re all going to begin to require submission of actual government ID in order to be on their platforms starting with Youtube

[Justice matters.]

33. They can't do that worldwide, because not just Americans use their sites.

Many "governments" around the world don't have "government ID" so will they suddenly ban hundreds of millions of users? I don't think so, but hey, they're playing with fire if they do that.

[Jack Valentino]

30. I've never run into anything like that on Instagram, BUT I hardly ever read "comments"...

Mostly just follow a lot of liberals.

[C Moon]

35. I made a tired old pun on FaceBook, "I did nazi that coming." And was immediately thrown into FB surveillance.

They didn't block my account, but I couldn't do any live groups, and a few other things.
I actually tried to fight it, saying my comment was a play on words. But it fell on deaf digital ears.

[AllyCat]

41. I posted a response on Reddit about making sure children

Were fed or some such.

It got deleted and I got a warning.

[womanofthehills]

46. Problem with Reddit- the person running the forum can kick you out

So it’s not Reddit doing - but an individual running a particular forum whose views might be different.

[AllyCat]

49. Ooohhhh

Interesting. So I got a warning for that sub, not Reddit in general.

Whoever did it said it was violent “hate speech”.

[AllyCat]

39. It's horrible. I've been off it since the election.

I’m happier for it. I hope you are too!

[Aristus]

40. Well done!

[mdbl]

42. Never had one.

From what I see on the scammer videos, it seems Instagram is the place to steal money from people.

[Akakoji]

43. I don't get it

I've been using Instagram for at least decade and never heard anyone complain about anything of the sort. I have zero love for Meta and Zuckerberg. It's a rabid, attention based cancer on society and the body politic that monetizes people's basic fears and needs most of the time, but no one has ever done that to me. And I am out there!

[customerserviceguy]

45. Other than this

I don't use any social media. It's pretty much an electronic sewer.