19 Comments
User's avatar
Ronni's avatar

“I assume everyone is as mean to me as I can be to myself. Anyway.”

I can only speak for myself, but I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I/we think: she really must need a break and I hope she’s doing OK!

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

❤️❤️❤️ so kind of you, thank you

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Elizabeth's avatar

I left Instagram five months ago and won’t go back. Haven’t been on Facebook or Twitter in years. I miss seeing people’s stuff sometimes but the benefits of leaving outweigh the cons. Living life for me 💖

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

Love this for you! ❤️

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Melissa's avatar

This is so relatable and so good. I recently deactivated IG and am desperately missing Monday Tweets 😂

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

Good on you for doing what's best for you! I also have missed tweets the past couple weeks 😆

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Veronica's avatar

Your content lately feels like something I could write myself. I feel this sooo deeply. I’ve been largely off social media for the last month+ and while it’s helped my mental health I miss the “connection”. And I still find myself wanting

to mindlessly scroll.

The Substack app has helped and I’ve seen a huge shift in the community aspect on here but it’s not the same. I don’t know what the answer is but an app designed to make me addicted and spread misinformation is not working for me anymore.

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

I feel you! Substack has definitely helped me scratch the itch as well, but it's so hard to find a perfect substitute for Instagram. Fingers crossed something is out there soon 🤞🏾

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katie jotham's avatar

I love this. I struggle with the capturing for an audience too 😫

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

It's so, so hard to find a balance!

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Caroline Ross's avatar

I love you, and every bit of this essay. Thank you for recommending This is About Humanity.

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

Of course! Thank you for reading

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Olivia Muenter's avatar

Oh boyyy do I feel this way all the time too. Always having to remind myself that not everything has to be all or nothing.

Love you <3

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

Thank you ❤️

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Caroline Moss's avatar

It's a HARD duality. Love you, you're doing great.

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Ayana Gabrielle Lage's avatar

❤️❤️❤️

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Beatrice's avatar

Thank you for sharing ❤️

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Hannah Graham's avatar

I’ve enjoyed your content on instagram for a few years now- it’s always felt so genuine. Glad you’re coming to terms with it in a way that feels healthy and safe for you ❤️

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Krystal 👩🏻‍💻's avatar

This is how I feel! I have shared so much, and so much of what I have shared has brought me joy. I love photography, editing photos, and sharing a few tidbits about what to do around town or my day. However, over time, I realized people weren't really reading it. It's SOOO hard. I did delete X and haven't looked back, but I will keep Instagram. For now.

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