If You’re LGBTQ+ Like Me, Read This! 
As a gender-fluid person, I recently created an Instagram account to explore how the algorithm works. I wanted to see what kind of content it would show me if I actively engaged with LGBTQ+ creators and hashtags.
Over the past few weeks, I intentionally liked and followed LGBTQ+ posts to get into that part of the algorithm. What I saw was deeply upsetting, but let me be clear: this was my experience, and yours might be different.
If you’re curious about what’s out there, here’s what I did:
1. Open Instagram.
2. Search for any post about transgender issues or LGBTQ+ topics.
3. Scroll through the comments.
For me, the comments were filled with hateful, harmful, and cruel rhetoric directed at people like us. It was heartbreaking to see so much ignorance and bigotry. 
That said, your experience might not be the same, you may see supportive and uplifting content instead. But for me, it was a stark reminder of how much hate now exists on Instagram.
If you’ve had enough of Instagram after seeing this (trust me, I get it), here’s how you can delete your account:
1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select Accounts Center > Personal Details.
4. Tap Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation or Deletion.
5. Choose the account you want to delete and select Delete Account.
6. Follow the steps, confirm with your password, and tap Continue.
Instagram gives you 30 days to change your mind before it permanently deletes your account.
If you seek a more positive and inclusive experience, #Pixelfed is a much greater space where all genders and identities are welcomed!
in calmness 
