Letting Go of the Grid: Finding Freedom in Social Media Imperfection

Hey there!

I just watched Peter McKinnon's "Letting Go of Instagram" video, and wow—it really put things into perspective for me. I'm willing to bet many of you feel the same way.

Remember when Instagram was just about sharing quick snapshots of your day? No pressure, no perfectly curated grid, no agonizing over whether your latest post "matched" your aesthetic. Just photos from your phone, posted in squares, connecting with friends.

What struck me most was Peter's realization that despite all the hours he spent meticulously arranging his grid, hardly anyone actually visits profiles anymore! We're all just scrolling through feeds, watching stories, and swiping through reels. All that perfectionism? It's mostly for ourselves.

His friend's comment really hit home: "I know you're a good photographer. I don't need to see your pictures—I want to see YOU. Where is my friend? What's he up to? What gets him going?"

Isn't that the truth? Social media is supposed to be, well, social! Yet so many of us (myself included) have been hiding behind perfectly edited content, afraid to show our messy, authentic selves.

As Peter put it, "the weight that could be lifted on so many creators could be substantial if we just loosened a little bit." I felt that in my soul. What if we dropped our shoulders and enjoyed these platforms for what they're meant to be—places to connect rather than perfect portfolios?

I'm curious—has your relationship with social media evolved over the years? Do you find yourself stressing over the "perfection" rather than enjoying the connection?

Until next week,

Will