I have used platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for utterly moronic reasons or at least marginally professional. As a culture writer, staying tapped into the online conversation feels essential: I have watched my ex’s Instagram stories of his Vermont co-op raising chickens for hours.
I have been having much more trouble lately reconciling myself with these platforms. My tipping point was watching Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Elon Musk speaking as honorees at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The apps that once allowed me to create a queer, out life are intrinsically linked to the ideologies of their creators, men, who are determined to make their digital stamp on a world I fundamentally oppose.
The Ethical Tightrope of Modern Convenience
I do not expect boycotting a handful of platforms to be the catalyst for dismantling capitalism or blunting a second Trump term. Most of the conveniences I depend on daily exist on top of hard ethical tradeoffs: smartphones, fast shipping, and affordable groceries.
I try to shop sustainably, eat ethically, and minimize my carbon footprint, but I still have an iPhone, buy kibble off Amazon when I am stuck, and occasionally treat myself to some factory-farmed cheese. All that is the exhausting calculation of living ethically within an ethical system premised on the principle of convenience over conscience.
What is especially jarring here is that we see the architects of social media. What used to be tools of liberation, standing next to this same man who developed policies that threatened the communities social media platforms helped bring together.
A Toxic Relationship with Tech
Quitting Instagram or X cold turkey is unlikely; leaving social media is difficult. I spend too much of my life in the cycles of extremes of food, productivity, and social media use to believe my all-or-nothing approach will work.
I have chosen to go slow. I keep my Instagram and X time to 30 minutes daily, but I plan to cut that into 15 minutes in the next few months. I hope to migrate my energy somewhere else at some point: to Bluesky, perhaps, or even to read books.
It is a strategy that feels more sustainable and much more compassionate than the idea of cutting ties overnight. Social media is an important lifeline for many queer and trans teens, particularly those in rural areas who evolve their sole connection and support source.
Making Choices in Dark Times
I understand how you feel powerless as the demon of a second Trump administration and the ever-approaching increase in fascism. I remind myself that amidst these dark times, I do have a choice over where I spend my attention and my resources.
For me, that means using those precious resources less to enrich billionaires who, it seems, despise whatever I stand for. It is not about purity; it is about harnessing tools from a world that feels out of control.
This shift made me realise it’s okay to move slowly and not be perfect. The apps that helped me meet people are not working for me the way they used to, and that’s hard but necessary. Perhaps I won’t unplug for good; someday, I can learn to be more productive with so much of that time scrolled away. It’s one step in the right direction either way.
Ava Thompson is a fashion stylist and trend forecaster, bringing you the latest in fashion tips, outfit inspirations, and style guides to elevate your wardrobe.
