Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were more than 545,000 average monthly searches nationwide for terms related to quitting Instagram. That includes phrases like “delete Instagram account,” “how to deactivate Instagram,” and “Instagram addiction.” Facebook came in a close second, with just over 538,000 monthly searches, while other platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Telegram trailed far behind.
The findings come from a study conducted by health and recovery publisher Recovered, which analyzed search behavior across all 50 states using Google Keyword Planner. The goal was to figure out not just which apps people were tired of, but also where in the country users were most likely to look for an exit from social media altogether.
To level the playing field between high- and low-population states, the researchers adjusted the data to reflect search volume per 100,000 residents. That’s where Hawaii stood out the most.
Hawaii Tops the List of Social Media Quitters
On a per-person basis, Hawaii led the nation, with an average of 568 monthly searches per 100,000 people related to deleting or stepping away from social platforms. For a state with a relatively small population, that’s a striking level of interest in disconnecting.The most searched phrases in Hawaii centered around Instagram and Facebook, which seemed to dominate the list across the board.
California followed close behind, with 528 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, amounting to more than 205,000 searches. Which shows the desire to slow down or disconnect was clearly gaining traction in California.
Nevada, Georgia, and a tie between New York and Texas rounded out the top five. All showed more than 500 monthly searches per 100,000 residents, with keyword trends echoing those in other states: users wanted to delete Instagram, shut down Facebook, or at least figure out how to take a break.
States like Colorado, Arizona, Washington, Virginia, and Oregon made up the rest of the top ten, each showing significant interest in going offline or stepping back from social networks. In every case, Instagram and Facebook appeared as the most frequently mentioned platforms in user search queries.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi had the lowest interest in quitting social media, with just 320 monthly searches per 100,000 people.
| State | Avg. Monthly Searches | Avg. Monthly Searches Per 100K People |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 8,145 | 568 |
| California | 205,598 | 528 |
| Nevada | 16,810 | 526 |
| Georgia | 56,610 | 513 |
| New York | 99,118 | 506 |
| Texas | 154,388 | 506 |
| Colorado | 29,598 | 504 |
| Arizona | 37,221 | 501 |
| Washington | 39,048 | 500 |
| Virginia | 42,916 | 492 |
| Oregon | 20,124 | 475 |
| Illinois | 59,404 | 473 |
| New Mexico | 9,953 | 471 |
| Maryland | 28,792 | 466 |
| North Carolina | 50,037 | 462 |
| Utah | 15,531 | 454 |
| Delaware | 4,676 | 453 |
| Rhode Island | 4,886 | 446 |
| Tennessee | 31,616 | 444 |
| Massachusetts | 30,865 | 441 |
| Connecticut | 15,613 | 432 |
| Florida | 96,981 | 429 |
| New Jersey | 39,608 | 426 |
| Michigan | 41,783 | 416 |
| Alaska | 3,052 | 416 |
| Pennsylvania | 53,768 | 415 |
| Kentucky | 18,774 | 415 |
| Indiana | 28,141 | 410 |
| Vermont | 2,642 | 408 |
| Oklahoma | 16,528 | 408 |
| Maine | 5,643 | 404 |
| Ohio | 47,494 | 403 |
| Louisiana | 18,422 | 403 |
| Wyoming | 2,340 | 401 |
| South Carolina | 21,468 | 400 |
| Missouri | 24,286 | 392 |
| West Virginia | 6,928 | 391 |
| Arkansas | 12,007 | 391 |
| Nebraska | 7,666 | 387 |
| New Hampshire | 5,388 | 384 |
| Kansas | 11,259 | 383 |
| Minnesota | 21,966 | 383 |
| North Dakota | 2,998 | 382 |
| Idaho | 7,448 | 379 |
| Montana | 4,273 | 377 |
| Alabama | 18,524 | 363 |
| Iowa | 11,344 | 354 |
| South Dakota | 3,240 | 352 |
| Wisconsin | 20,214 | 342 |
| Mississippi | 9,403 | 320 |
Instagram Fatigue Is Real and Facebook Isn’t Far Behind
While Instagram led the pack, Facebook wasn’t far behind in terms of user fatigue. Each month, hundreds of thousands of Americans looked up ways to delete or escape both platforms. Even X, Snapchat, Telegram, and TikTok made the list, but with far fewer searches.Other apps, including LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, Messenger, Threads, Pinterest, and WhatsApp, generated fewer than 30,000 monthly searches each. That doesn’t mean they’re immune to user fatigue, but the urge to quit just isn’t as strong.
| Rank | Social Media Platform | Average Number of Monthly Searches | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 545,449 | ||
| 2 | 538,533 | ||
| 3 | X | 155,862 | |
| 4 | Snapchat | 88,234 | |
| 5 | Telegram | 67,148 | |
| 6 | TikTok | 28,526 | |
| 7 | 27,663 | ||
| 8 | YouTube | 17,384 | |
| 9 | 17,234 | ||
| 10 | Messenger | 16,909 | |
| 11 | Threads | 8,300 | |
| 12 | 7,195 | ||
| 13 | 6,096 |
A Sign of Digital Burnout?
Be it social overload, algorithmic fatigue, or endless notifications, users in the United States seem increasingly ready to disconnect. The fact that so many are turning to Google for help shows that the urge to unplug isn’t just a passing thought, it’s something people are actively trying to figure out.For now, Instagram and Facebook still dominate the social landscape. But if search trends are any clue, plenty of users are already halfway out the door.
James Wittams-Smith, founder of Recovered, explains that:
“For those who engage with social media apps regularly, the process of scrolling and taking in images, posting and receiving positive affirmations from others, and other stimuli create the chemical, dopamine in the brain. The more you engage with social media and receive the rewarding dopamine hit it creates, the more your brain will seek it out to get another hit. This can lead to social media dependence and addiction.
"For those considering a break from social media, start small by setting aside a certain amount of time dedicated to social media per day. Using a timer or app that blocks social media can hold you accountable for this. Taking up new hobbies that are not technology-related is also a great way to take time off social media, as well as intentionally seeing friends and family in person.
“Keep in mind these platforms are designed to get and hold your attention, so work on taking control of your usage instead of letting these sites control you. This way, social media can be something that enhances your quality of life, instead of diminishing it.”
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: Chatbots Are Pointing Millions Of Users to the Wrong Sites and Scammers Are Cashing In
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: Chatbots Are Pointing Millions Of Users to the Wrong Sites and Scammers Are Cashing In
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World
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