Quitting social media in 2025! Social media is still a dominant force in business marketing, but is it really the best option for every entrepreneur? For me, the answer is no. After years of navigating ever-changing algorithms, short-form content trends, and the pressure to be everywhere at once, I’ve now decided to step away from social media as my primary marketing tool. Here’s why—and how I’m shifting my focus in 2025.

The Downsides Of Social Media… And My Fixes

1. No More Time-Wasting Doom Scrolling

Social media is designed to keep us hooked. The endless scroll is a black hole of wasted time that could be better spent on more productive and fulfilling activities. By quitting social media, I’ve eliminated this distraction, allowing me to be more intentional with my time. Also gaining more sleep and better sleep habits due to eliminating doom scrolling in bed!

2. Freedom from Comparison

Seeing other businesses’ highlight reels constantly made me second-guess my work. Removing this daily exposure has freed me from the comparisonitis trap! Allowing me to focus on my own growth and creative ideas, without the subconscious pressure of keeping up with what’s trending.

3. No more vanity metrics!

Removing the self imposed feeling of failure… ‘My business will only be considered as successful when I have X amount of followers’ – Someone could have 10k followers that may have no engagement or full of bots etc. OR you could have 800 followers of people local to you that are actively spreading the word and giving you a consistent flow of enquiries. A ‘low’ follower number might make you feel inadequate, yet an account with a high follower number might actually be no better off.

4. Reduced Anxiety Triggers

Algorithms thrive on engagement, often pushing anxiety-inducing content onto our feeds. This cycle affected my mental well-being, influencing what I saw and how I felt. Without social media dictating my daily digital environment, I’m in control of what media I consume.

5. No Longer Using My Personal Social Media

Last Summer I decided to quit using social media for personal use. I no longer feel the pressure to share my life’s details. I’ve also opted to no longer share my children’s faces online, to protect their privacy as they’re getting older. Because of this, I can and will now share any personal behind the scenes, but on my business social media stories. To help to show the face behind the business and build connections with things in common with anyone following along.

6. Moving Away from Short-Form Content

Reels, TikToks, and fast-paced content never felt right for me. My brain prefers long-form content that allows for deeper connections and value-driven conversations. By not giving social media so much energy, I’m embracing the format that aligns best with my creative process and enjoyment. For me that’s writing blog posts and podcasting. You can listen to my Podcast ‘The Motherhood Hustle’ here.

7. Owning My Platform

At the end of the day, you don’t own your social media accounts—platforms do. They can disappear, get hacked, or change their rules at any time. By focusing on my website, blog, and SEO, I’m investing in a space that is 100% mine.

How I’m Still Utilising Social Media… But Without The Overwhelm!

While I’m quitting the traditional approach to social media… AKA having the apps readily accessible on my phone and feeling constantly tied to it! – I’m not abandoning it completely. Being realistic, in the digital age we live in, I completely understand how valuable a successful social media account can be for a small business. I’m also fully grateful for the free marketing service social media gives us at our fingertips.

(and I say free loosely because I personally don’t use, and refuse to pay for, any paid ads!)

So here’s how I plan to maintain my social media presence while disconnecting and keeping my sanity:

1. Using A Scheduler

I’ll continue to post content to social media, but through my scheduler to maintain an active presence and without having to manually engage with the apps in real time. By batch creating my content in advance and scheduling accordingly, means I don’t constantly have to have the app glued to my hand! Just like I spend an hour or two blogging or book keeping etc, social media scheduling now falls into this same admin category. So I only need to open the app to post a real time story every now and then.

2. Checking DM’s Like Emails

Rather than constantly monitoring my inbox and being bombarded and distracted with notifications, I now check my messages on my desktop only. Treating DM’s like emails and keeping my inbox at zero. This means I can still connect with and engage with industry peers and followers and also reply to enquiries.

3. Industry Connections

Social media is SO useful and powerful for networking, so I can’t imagine not being able to engage with or cheer on my peers. Now I only log into my social media accounts via desktop, so I can still connect, but there’s no doom scrolling as it’s set up so differently to mobile.

4. Collaborating With Clients

I love to collaborate on Instagram posts with my clients! I love that they love to have their photos shared with their family and friends. Because of this, collaborating is also such a great tool for word of mouth recommendations and a link back to your page for others to find your website.

5. Instagram Stories

One part of Instagram I actually do really enjoy is talking to and sharing to my stories! I think because the story tab is 100% of people you follow, so you can really see content from people who you want to see rather than the algorithm showing you random things! – They’re so quick and easy to post to without requiring any thought or strategy and they always spark DM replies which leads to some lovely conversations and build connections.

6. Facebook Groups

These provide valuable community support, and I’ve been able to make new industry friends by using Facebook groups. I’ve now really curated how many I’m in so I don’t get overwhelmed. I also love running my two education Facebook groups… ‘The Wedding Photography Corner’ & ‘The Studio Photography Corner’ where I can provide support and guidance to other wedding & studio photographers.

7. Using My Preferred Platforms

Instead of feeling obligated to be everywhere, I’ll stick to the platforms that I want to use. For me that’s Instagram for collaboration posts and sharing to my stories. And Facebook for cross sharing my Instagram posts and to be able to participate in my Facebook groups that I enjoy being a part of.

What I’m Focusing On Instead

By taking a step back from social media, I’m freeing up more time to invest in more sustainable and valuable marketing strategies:

Pinterest for Inspiration & Traffic

Pinterest is a powerful tool for long-term content discovery, driving traffic to my website without the need for constant engagement. I LOVE searching Pinterest for inspiration! It has the complete opposite effect of social media doom scrolling for me. I always leave Pinterest buzzing with new ideas and also… No stress or anxiety!

Blogging & SEO

Long-form content is evergreen. I’m focusing on writing blog posts that rank on search engines and provides content for future clients to read that lasts beyond a 24-hour social media post.

Driving Traffic to My Website

Through my scheduler, I can maintain my social media presence as building the know, like and trust factor is still essential when a potential new client lands on your account. But ultimately, my social media accounts are there to direct people to my website.

Final Thoughts

Quitting social media might seem like a bold move in 2025, but for me, it’s the best decision for my business and well-being. By shifting my focus to blogging, SEO, and Pinterest, I’m building a sustainable marketing strategy that aligns with my values.

Although this is titled I’ve ‘quit’ social media, what I actually mean is I’ve ‘quit feeling like I’m in a vicious stress and algorithm fight’ with it. My social media accounts haven’t been deleted and I’m still actively managing them. Just now it’s from a distance and all on my own terms and timeframe. All while keeping my blinkers on and avoiding the overwhelming amount of content exposure on there at the same time.

If you’ve been feeling burnt out by social media, know that there are other ways to grow your business. The digital world is always evolving, so we shouldn’t be feeling like we have to put all of our marketing eggs in one basket.

Also a disclaimer to end on… I’m in no way saying you SHOULD be quitting social media. I have friends with small businesses who actually really enjoy being on social media and using the apps/platforms! – This is a personal decision I’ve now made with how I’m running my business going forward and my reasons as to why.

Are you considering quitting social media? Did any of these points resonate with you?

My inbox is always open! – Email me at rebecca@rebeccacaseyphotography.co.uk with your thoughts on this subject or head on over to my Facebook groups to join in on the discussion!

To join ‘The Wedding Photography Corner’ Facebook group >>> CLICK HERE

To join ‘The Studio Photography Corner’ Facebook group >>> CLICK HERE

Rebecca Trueman is a natural light maternity, newborn and family photographer in Wiltshire, based just outside the City of Bath in South West, UK. Rebecca has a lifestyle and relaxed approach to all sessions. Focusing on emotion, connection & simplicity with a light & airy, dreamy, prop free signature style.

To book your photoshoot >>> CLICK HERE

Follow along on Instagram here >>> @rebeccacaseystudio & @rebeccacaseyphoto