The Social Media Shift: Why X Marked the Spot for Me to Leave

Choosing Independence Over Influence: Why I’m Focusing on My Blog Instead of Playing by Big Tech’s Rules

Instagram keeps showing me the same cat videos on repeat, and now they’ve decided to branch out into Threads? No thanks. I still don’t do TikTok, I’ve once again cancelled my Facebook, and while I remain somewhat active on Instagram to stay in touch with people across different circles, my real focus is on my blog and my own platforms.

Why? Because I want to maintain my online presence on my own terms—outside of algorithms, paid ads, and big tech companies dictating what the world sees about me.

My Experiment with Twitter Blue

A few years ago, I did a little experiment and signed up for Twitter Blue. I was curious—if I paid Twitter a few dollars each month, would my tweets actually get seen by more people?

Short answer: Not really.

The only noticeable difference after canceling Twitter Blue was that I was no longer paying $15 a month (after price hikes). Engagement didn’t improve, my experience on the platform remained the same, and ultimately, it felt like nothing more than a money grab.