09 January 2026
Hello
For years, I enjoyed sharing things on Instagram, but I’ve come to feel sick of it. I know I’m not alone – and this isn’t only about Instagram.
I read something recently that stuck in my mind: the owners of social media platforms have taken a bet we’ll never leave – because we love our friends more than we hate them and their platforms. Well, I’m weaning myself off social media AND I love my friends. I had friends long before social media was a thing.
Starting on 1 February 2026, I’ll be experimenting with a daily post of the kind I might previously have put on Instagram.
Every day, there will be a picture and some text, posted to my website first then automatically – almost instantly – sent out to a pop-up newsletter (not my general newsletter).
I’ll do it for 28 days, every day, to build a habit. Afterwards I’ll keep the posts on my website but close down the pop-up newsletter.
The pop-up newsletter will be called Outstagram. I’ll only send the emails to people who actively sign up.
Outstagram
Before you sign up
Part of the reason I’m doing this is because I’m sick of the surveillance built into everything online. I don’t want to worry about who read this email or didn’t read that one. I don’t want to worry about whether so-and-so subscribed or unsubscribed. You’re free to come and go.
#Email Alias
Speaking of which, you may feel even more free to go if you subscribe using an email alias (basically, a disguise for your own email address). Quite a while ago now, I started using a different alias for almost everything that requires me to give my email. I create a new alias each time, using the privacy-first browser DuckDuckGo. I like to think that I’m a trustworthy chap, but it seems that, alas, the internet is full of dodgy characters, and I’ll be delighted to think that I’ve encouraged you to experiment with email aliases. They can make your internet adventures a little more secure.
#RSS Feed
If you would like to follow along, but don’t want to get any more emails in your inbox, you can subscribe to the RSS feed. I use an RSS reader called NetNewsWire (it works with iPhone, not sure about other phones). I love reading things that way, and wish more people knew about RSS. With RSS, you can subscribe to things without anybody knowing, which creates a lot less guilt and anxiety if, for any reason, you feel like unsubscribing. If my Outstagram experiment encourages you to try RSS, I’ll feel that my work has been worthwhile.
Although I’m suggesting you subscribe to these emails anonymously – with an alias, or via RSS – that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear from you. It doesn’t mean I don’t want to know who you are. On the contrary!
The price I’ll pay for your increased security and privacy is – well, I won’t know if you’re reading / looking.
So if you decide to reply, that would be ace. I’d like that!
To recap:
The popup newsletter starts 1 February, for 28 days.
You can subscribe with your normal email or an email alias here:
CHECK
You can follow the RSS using this feed:
CHECK
JPF