We hate it here (but we’re stuck)

If you’ve spent the past week doomscrolling, you’ve probably noticed the dismal news circulating about the social media platforms we rely on. Meta auto-following political accounts without your consent...TikTok teetering on the edge of collapse only to reopen under suspicious circumstances...Censhorship of content…It’s been a rough stretch. And once the initial shock fades, you’re left with the reality that billionaires are running the show. Annnnd...cue the kneejerk reaction to leave these platforms for good.

This conversation pops up regularly. Toward the end of last year, conversations about posting less and logging off gained momentum. Digital fatigue collided with real-world exhaustion, and even the most plugged-in among us began to slow down. Posting anything to the grid became an afterthought. But then the holidays arrived, and Instagram flooded with recap carousels. It felt quaint and nice—a calm before the storm. And then, inevitably, the billionaires crashed back into our feeds.

Here’s where things get messy. It’s easy to fantasize about abandoning these platforms altogether, given the circumstances. But let’s be real: Instagram is still how your favorite bakery lets you know when a fresh pie is out of the oven (hi, Downtime!). It’s how creators pay their bills, how we keep tabs on each other, and how we pass the time. These apps are awful, but they’ve also become quasi-public utilities that are embedded in our everyday lives. So...what now?

One thing is clear: walking away from these platforms is complicated. And that fact is made even more complex when something good happens. Every now and then, they reveal glimpses of how great they could be: imperfect but surprisingly effective tools for fostering community when used with intention.

Take the Instagram post from Germantown Kitchen Garden, where Amanda candidly vented her frustrations with the city’s revenue department and invited other local businesses to share their experiences of systemic incompetence—collecting FORTY TWO comments! Hello small business community!

Or Petshopboy, a content creator I love who routinely posts Tiktoks and Stories that blend chaotic, hilarious Real Housewives commentary with sharp-edged culture/news analysis. In response to recent events, he reignited his “I hate it here” clothing shop, transforming collective frustration into something bigger: a shared joke, a coping mechanism, and a small rebellion against the absurdities we all endure.

For all their flaws, social media platforms still have the potential to create humor, resilience, and connection. They can also really help to grow the reach of your brand, a fact that’s hard to ignore for small businesses in particular. But let’s be clear: what makes them valuable isn’t their algorithms or features—it’s the people on them. You, your community, your audience. That’s why it’s essential not to be beholden to any one platform but to embrace a multiplatform approach that puts you—and the connections you’re building—at the center.

If a platform is useful to you, use it—but only in ways that truly serve your needs. Maybe it helps get customers in the door or shows off your latest merch, and that’s fine! But if it’s toxic, call it out and start building something better. Let your website take on more of the workload, or focus on creating a newsletter that fosters a direct, lasting connection with your audience. You can still keep your social media accounts for promotion and interaction, but use them strategically to guide your audience to more meaningful, reliable spaces.

You’re bigger than any app, and your audience is probably just as over these platforms as you are. Why not give them somewhere else to go?

about aml

Hi, I’m Anne Marie (she/her), a designer and diy-er based in Philadelphia, PA. I work with small brands. Find me on Instagram, LinkedIn, and reach me directly at annemarie@amlindemann.com.