Why Does Substack Feel More Freeing Than Instagram?
I’ve been trying to figure out what about Substack has felt so freeing to me.
As much as people want to talk about how “different” it is than social media, it’s still social media.
Is it the lack of endless videos?
Is it the completely formed thoughts?
Is it the vulnerability that feels (even if it’s just slightly) less performative?
All of these things have been a bit of a breath of fresh air after over a decade of Instagram’s increasingly monopolistic grip on my attention.
But it’s more.
It’s the lack of “likes” and followers. It’s the anonymity. It’s the fact that no one knows me or is watching me or really gives a damn about what I’m saying.
Not once have I thought about what the ambiguous “they” will think about what I’m posting.
Or wondered if “they” saw my post.
I haven’t considered the silent quid pro quo of liking something since I downloaded Substack.
Or felt that twinge as I wondered why “they” saw my reposted post on my story and still didn’t like it.
I don’t agonize over whether my caption is the right degree of interesting and informative but also nonchalant.
Or what story the order of the pictures in the carousel was telling.
Or whether the spacing of the song on my reel is *just* perfect.
Substack is just me and my thoughts and what I feel inspired to share, when I feel inspired to share it.
It’s just me and my iced chai and breakfast sandwiches enjoying the perfect 70 degree weather.
Will it always be like this?
I can’t be sure but, honestly? I don’t really care. This is what it feels like right now.
And that’s really what is freeing.