I'm not leaving.
While it’s hard to love a platform that feels like you're stuck in 1984 with a side of the Stepford Wives, I've decided I'm not leaving Instagram.
Having the freedom and ability to just pack up and go to another platform is great, and if you want to do that, I'm fine with that, just make sure you follow me elsewhere or sign up for my newsletter.
Leaving and abandoning a platform that I've been building for the past 10+ years isn't an option for me however. Instagram has grown with me and my business. Like many small and queer-owned businesses, part of my sales, rely on the visual exposure Instagram provides.
My work is colorful, bold, and unapologetically loud (like Suspiria on a good day) and this platform is one of the few places where it can really shine. Without it, the risk of failure skyrockets, and guess what? That’s exactly what the 1% is hoping for. They’d love to see small marginalized creators roll over and let them have the whole pie. Well, I’m keeping my slice and as a form of resistance, I'll start handing out pieces to those that matter.
As long as I can control what happens in my little digital corner, I’m staying put. I’ll be here, dyeing yarn, sharing my work, getting shadowbanned for what shouldn't be controversial opinions, and keeping my space open for others in the community who also need it.
I'll be making side accounts on whatever social media types pop up (pixelfed, bluesky, etc) but as long as my livelihood depends on commerce (aka until Capitalism finally fails), I will stay on Instagram by choice.
HOW TO SUPPORT MARGINALIZED MAKERS
If you’re wondering how to support creators, small businesses, and communities—especially those run by marginalized folks—there’s plenty you can do.
Simple, meaningful actions go a long way:
- Engage With Our Content: Like, comment, save, and share posts from marginalized creators and businesses. The algorithm isn’t exactly built to uplift us, so your engagement helps level the playing field.
- Shop Small and Diverse: When you’re buying gifts, looking for services, or treating yourself, prioritize businesses owned by marginalized groups—queer, BIPOC, disabled, immigrant, or otherwise. Every purchase says, “I see you, and I value what you bring to the table.” It’s like casting us as the heroes in a world that too often relegates us to side characters.
- Amplify Our Voices: Tell your friends, coworkers, and even your Aunt Susan about the work we’re doing. Share links, give shout-outs, or drop a casual mention over coffee. Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful ways to support creators.
- Educate Yourself and Others: Take the time to learn about the barriers marginalized creators face (systemic oppression, discrimination, lack of resources) and talk to others about it. The more informed we all are, the better we can fight back against the Orwellian systems that keep us down.
- Hold Corporations Accountable: If you see companies exploiting or tokenizing marginalized communities, don’t stay silent. Use your voice, your platform, and your wallet to demand better. Change starts when the masses decide they won’t put up with performative nonsense anymore.
- Support Alternative Spaces: While platforms like Instagram are essential for many of us right now, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. If you discover apps, networks, or initiatives genuinely uplifting marginalized creators, help spread the word and contribute to those spaces.
At the end of the day, allyship is about consistently showing up, amplifying voices, and making room for others to thrive. It doesn’t require grand speeches or dramatic gestures, just a commitment to support, uplift, and challenge the systems designed to hold us back. Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference.