I had so much fun putting together my list of 5 Pretty/Ugly Instagram accounts yesterday - it’s nice to know that there are a few places on the internet which won’t increase my penchant for gloom, doom, and dread and might instead make me laugh, think, or feel inspired!
So I’d love to know - which social media accounts keep you from throwing your phone into the great abyss?
Ok, this isn't an answer to your question, but I quit FB in 2019, and IG in 2021... and I'm so glad that I did. I don't do Tiktok. Ultimately I really don't miss any of it. I was a big used of IG for several years, but the trade off wasn't worth it for me in the long run.
Just so no one throws tomatoes at me.... I do not see myself as "holier than thou". At the time I quit Instagram, I remember feeling embarrassed and weird for needing to close my account (including the account for my small business) IG because it made me feel really... not great, no matter how I tweaked my feed. I have ADHD (I'm diagnosed and medicated) and poor self control in terms of social media scrolling. The app is made to be addictive, and even with all my attempts to curate it, overall, after the initial high of opening it to peek at my feed and likes and comments etc, I'd start feeling shitty. There was a clear correlation for me. But this is my brain, and I don't assume it's the same for everyone.
If someone sends me a clip from Tiktok or IG via text, sometimes I'll watch it and have a fun little moment. But I still have no desire to reopen that box.
I fully deleted IG on my phone the other day and was committed to taking a month off…and then started wondering what my fave vintage sellers had posted for sale that day haha.
I actually detest how much IG has turned into a shopping channel, but there are a lot of vintage folks who sell only on the platform, so that keeps me coming back. Current faves are: Wovenfolk and White Tees Blue Jeans.
Also, @officialsadbeige, who’s probably best known for her hilarious series Werner Herzog’s Sad Beige Clothes for Sad Beige Children, but everything she does is sharp and truly funny.
Apart from some real life friends, I almost exclusively follow makers on Instagram which makes it a very pretty happy inspiring place. I follow sewists, knitters, crocheters, weavers, menders, costumers, photographers, dancers, and a couple of lovely animal accounts. I mostly don't follow any shops or people trying to monetise their accounts as influencers, although I do follow some people who are makers and have small businesses. I follow 'real' people, lots of whom don't have a huge following, so you can get to know each other as you comment on each other's posts. And when I browse I usually click the button to only see the people I follow. Some favourites that do have bigger followings;
I keep my follows highly curated for both time and sanity. On Instagram, I love jennibick (stationery store!), momlife_comics (for the humor and community), and kobe_yn (for cute kids cooking). On X/Twitter, @merriamwebster (yes, a dictionary), @CharDreizen (for the abundance of information about recycling), and @dog_rates (dogs!).
I follow what seems like hundreds of accounts of artists big and small. Beginner and expert water colorists, children’s book illustrators, etc.
sometimes if the art is too good, too complicated I’ll switch to something simpler, more beginner friendly. I am trying so hard to follow my 9-year-old daughter’s lead and be simple and basic and find joy in the basic art process.
I quit Facebook a long time ago. I try to be pretty ruthless with my IG feed. I follow some friends that share difficult political stuff but I won’t repost because I need my feed to help my sanity not contribute to its demise. I have tried to look at style and immediately feel bad about myself. Political stuff makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come back out.
@blackforager — pure joy, whether you’re interested in learning about foraging or not
@ozetta and @myfavouritethings.knitwear — beautiful, wearable sweater patterns
@saint.clairs.scissors — outfit posts that are fun and not shop-y, just about showing up as yourself in the world. Plus she has a small business selling one-off pieces made from reclaimed fabric
@indiarosecrawford and zinc_hobbies — tiny knitted Frog and Toad in different outfits and scenarios
@claire_smithslife and @theorganizedhomemaker — garden content that’s equal parts aspirational and inspirational
@slowstitchclub - visible mending account. she does beautiful work and her videos have helped me a lot. I have been trying to mend more clothes and get more wear out of them, which is definitely a privilege to find time to do that. but it's really made me stop and think if i should donate something or just try to fix it.
1) Sharon Says So @sharonsaysso- to stay informed but not crazy about news
2) Food Science Babe @foodsciencebabe- to stay informed but not crazy about food
3) TL Yarncrafts @tlyarncrafts- if a person was a ray of sunshine. She is a crochet guru and she’s a delight
4) Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody @mandypatinkin - married couple that are actors (you killed my father, prepare to die) who let us in on their quirky lives. Love them
Jordan and Silvan from Homegrown_handgathered are aspirational in a genuinely good and positive way. They grow, forage, and hunt for most of their own food, but they’re not homesteaders - they live in Pittsburgh and use community gardens, and hunt and forage on public lands. They seem like genuinely nice people and their content is incredibly accessible and cool.
Also Meredith Weber, who is consistently funny, kind-spirited, and relevant to my interests (general outdoorsy topics and humor).
I was introduced to @flo_finds by you and that led me into the larger mudlarking world on Instagram and I love it. @megasteg and @mudlarkingjack are two other accounts I follow and like because they also talk about the history of their finds. And then @megasteg led me to @fiveinthenest, who’s a basket weaver who incorporates mudlarking finds and pebbles and seashells etc into her little basket weaving objets d’art and they’re SO aesthetic.
I also love @pebbleoftheday, which true to its name is someone posting an aesthetically pleasing pebble they find on an English beach every single day. It’s delightful.
Ok, this isn't an answer to your question, but I quit FB in 2019, and IG in 2021... and I'm so glad that I did. I don't do Tiktok. Ultimately I really don't miss any of it. I was a big used of IG for several years, but the trade off wasn't worth it for me in the long run.
Just so no one throws tomatoes at me.... I do not see myself as "holier than thou". At the time I quit Instagram, I remember feeling embarrassed and weird for needing to close my account (including the account for my small business) IG because it made me feel really... not great, no matter how I tweaked my feed. I have ADHD (I'm diagnosed and medicated) and poor self control in terms of social media scrolling. The app is made to be addictive, and even with all my attempts to curate it, overall, after the initial high of opening it to peek at my feed and likes and comments etc, I'd start feeling shitty. There was a clear correlation for me. But this is my brain, and I don't assume it's the same for everyone.
If someone sends me a clip from Tiktok or IG via text, sometimes I'll watch it and have a fun little moment. But I still have no desire to reopen that box.
I fully deleted IG on my phone the other day and was committed to taking a month off…and then started wondering what my fave vintage sellers had posted for sale that day haha.
I actually detest how much IG has turned into a shopping channel, but there are a lot of vintage folks who sell only on the platform, so that keeps me coming back. Current faves are: Wovenfolk and White Tees Blue Jeans.
Also, @officialsadbeige, who’s probably best known for her hilarious series Werner Herzog’s Sad Beige Clothes for Sad Beige Children, but everything she does is sharp and truly funny.
@selltradeplus, run by my podcast co-host Corinne! Best place to buy and sell plus sized clothing!!
@thealexbeard - british home renovation, great stories, her husband was a GBBO competitor. excellent lipstick recommendations too.
@hereweread - children’s book author, amazing recommendations for more diverse books for kids
Apart from some real life friends, I almost exclusively follow makers on Instagram which makes it a very pretty happy inspiring place. I follow sewists, knitters, crocheters, weavers, menders, costumers, photographers, dancers, and a couple of lovely animal accounts. I mostly don't follow any shops or people trying to monetise their accounts as influencers, although I do follow some people who are makers and have small businesses. I follow 'real' people, lots of whom don't have a huge following, so you can get to know each other as you comment on each other's posts. And when I browse I usually click the button to only see the people I follow. Some favourites that do have bigger followings;
@groovygreylook
@marcialoisriddington
@iusedtobeacurtain
@thebrightblooms
@dittepip
@barkland_croft
@vintage_dahling
@mollyjeanbennett
@tashacouldmakethat
@littlecottonrabbits
@margarts
@ingthings
@fergus.king_of_scotland
@heidiwranglescats
I adore Cheek Media (Australian and world current events!)
@gardinerbrothers - Irish River dancing to popular songs. So delightful.
@_we_love_you_ , @poppymaven (shameless plug), @sarahezrinyoga and @art_dailydose to name a few I love
I keep my follows highly curated for both time and sanity. On Instagram, I love jennibick (stationery store!), momlife_comics (for the humor and community), and kobe_yn (for cute kids cooking). On X/Twitter, @merriamwebster (yes, a dictionary), @CharDreizen (for the abundance of information about recycling), and @dog_rates (dogs!).
I follow what seems like hundreds of accounts of artists big and small. Beginner and expert water colorists, children’s book illustrators, etc.
sometimes if the art is too good, too complicated I’ll switch to something simpler, more beginner friendly. I am trying so hard to follow my 9-year-old daughter’s lead and be simple and basic and find joy in the basic art process.
@nullsie
@andrea.nelson.art - pro with tutorials
@eastbaykate
@sarahdandelioncray - pro with tutorials
I quit Facebook a long time ago. I try to be pretty ruthless with my IG feed. I follow some friends that share difficult political stuff but I won’t repost because I need my feed to help my sanity not contribute to its demise. I have tried to look at style and immediately feel bad about myself. Political stuff makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come back out.
I LOVE @edeneats! I follow her for recipe ideas and also because she’s a 416 (Toronto) girl like me!
@blackforager — pure joy, whether you’re interested in learning about foraging or not
@ozetta and @myfavouritethings.knitwear — beautiful, wearable sweater patterns
@saint.clairs.scissors — outfit posts that are fun and not shop-y, just about showing up as yourself in the world. Plus she has a small business selling one-off pieces made from reclaimed fabric
@indiarosecrawford and zinc_hobbies — tiny knitted Frog and Toad in different outfits and scenarios
@claire_smithslife and @theorganizedhomemaker — garden content that’s equal parts aspirational and inspirational
@slowstitchclub - visible mending account. she does beautiful work and her videos have helped me a lot. I have been trying to mend more clothes and get more wear out of them, which is definitely a privilege to find time to do that. but it's really made me stop and think if i should donate something or just try to fix it.
1) Sharon Says So @sharonsaysso- to stay informed but not crazy about news
2) Food Science Babe @foodsciencebabe- to stay informed but not crazy about food
3) TL Yarncrafts @tlyarncrafts- if a person was a ray of sunshine. She is a crochet guru and she’s a delight
4) Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody @mandypatinkin - married couple that are actors (you killed my father, prepare to die) who let us in on their quirky lives. Love them
I’m gonna have to think about #5 and come back
Jordan and Silvan from Homegrown_handgathered are aspirational in a genuinely good and positive way. They grow, forage, and hunt for most of their own food, but they’re not homesteaders - they live in Pittsburgh and use community gardens, and hunt and forage on public lands. They seem like genuinely nice people and their content is incredibly accessible and cool.
Also Meredith Weber, who is consistently funny, kind-spirited, and relevant to my interests (general outdoorsy topics and humor).
I was introduced to @flo_finds by you and that led me into the larger mudlarking world on Instagram and I love it. @megasteg and @mudlarkingjack are two other accounts I follow and like because they also talk about the history of their finds. And then @megasteg led me to @fiveinthenest, who’s a basket weaver who incorporates mudlarking finds and pebbles and seashells etc into her little basket weaving objets d’art and they’re SO aesthetic.
I also love @pebbleoftheday, which true to its name is someone posting an aesthetically pleasing pebble they find on an English beach every single day. It’s delightful.
Shameless self-promo coming... my IG page about eco-friendly swaps is nice, calm and friendly... @greatlittleecogoals 👍🤣