Why I’m leaving the Algorithm Behind.

After pushing through my resistance and giving Instagram a go for the last couple of months, I've finally come to realise what makes me feel so conflicted and uncomfortable about being on this platform, both in a business and personal sense.

The Authenticity Paradox

At the moment, "authenticity" is a hot topic and we're all encouraged to be more real, unhinged, and ourselves—which I do agree with in theory. But what has become crystal clear to me is that to "succeed," build a following, and get regular engagement, I need to showcase my life more and be okay with transforming my private moments, personal struggles, and raw emotions into public content—effectively turning my vulnerabilities into currency for the algorithm's relentless hunger for engagement.

I understand why platforms are designed this way—humans naturally connect with personal stories and faces rather than concepts or services alone. The algorithms know this and reward content that sparks emotional connection and keeps people scrolling. Without sharing personal details, photos of yourself, or glimpses into your private life, it's incredibly difficult to gain traction, regardless of how valuable your actual services might be.

I've noticed each time I share a photo of myself or my family, or provide just a glimpse into my intimate experiences and learnings, suddenly people are hungry for more. They message and encourage. They want to see more of me. Reread that: they want to see more of me...and it's not their fault - that's how the platform thrives by designing an experience that triggers our innate curiosity about others' lives. The system itself cultivates this hunger to peer into personal moments, creating a cycle where we're all encouraged to look outward rather than inward. And perhaps there's comfort in that distraction—with enough focus on someone else's life, maybe we don't have to deal with the confronting feelings that our own life brings. The platform capitalises on this very human tendency to seek escape from our own discomfort. I also started to notice the go boost I would get from a 'successful post' . It lasted for a couple of hours like a strong coffee, but as with most false highs, it eventually dropped and left me feeling down, confused, and misplaced. What is this platform actually doing to me?

The Revelation

Here it is: I realised I'm doing the exact thing that I support people to stop doing—relying on others' validation to make me feel seen, accepted and wanted. Instagram has made this loud and clear: unless I'm willing to get personal and share my private life with the entire world, it's not going to support me.

That's where it doesn't align for me. I don't want to be remembered as someone who was on Instagram all the time. I don't want to sacrifice my personal life and intimate moments with random strangers. I want to share my experiences in person with close friends and clients who I know will genuinely resonate with my story and resources in real time. It's about choosing presence over performance, and meaningful connection over superficial engagement.

What Instagram Takes Away

Instagram takes me away from being present. It takes me away from being in my body. Most importantly, it takes me away from living as nature intended and being aligned with my core values. I was not born into this world to publicise my life through a small screen.

I'm done trying to weigh up the pros and cons—there are very few pros for me, if any. Living aligned with my values matters more than any business advantage Instagram might offer. I know if i place my focus on being honest, creative and grounded, myself and others can find other ways to lead by example in our businesses and with our offerings in ways that don't rely on grasping others' attention and hooking them to their devices for longer. No, we do not need any more of that, even if the content is holistic and has the best intentions. The world doesn't need another person trapped in the algorithm—it needs people who are present, connected, and living with integrity.

This is why I choose to lead with my feet planted firmly on the ground, away from the constant pull of digital validation. Instead, I will nurture connections that bloom in shared moments of genuine presence. I'll seek inspiration from the wisdom that already surrounds us—in nature, in meaningful conversations, and in the quiet spaces where our own inner guidance can finally be heard.