Sure, Instagram is the hot social media app of 2020, and there are plenty of benefits of using it.

But if you're following even a small handful of Instagram models, it's almost definitely in your best interests to unfollow them all right now.

For the purposes of this article, we'll define 'Instagram models' as women you've never met who offer no value on the platform, other than looking pretty.

I promise you'll lose nothing by removing these hotties from your follow list, and you'll probably gain a lot.

Here are three reasons why you should unfollow these accounts as soon as possible.

1. It's a tremendous waste of time

Raise your hand if you have dreams of learning a new skill, taking up a new hobby, building your Medium account, reading a useful book — but don't have the time at the moment.

If your hand is raised, I suggest you take a look at how much time you're spending on social media.

Instagram actually has a feature which reveals how many minutes you spend on its app per day. Click the menu, then 'Your Activity' to see for yourself. Then, ask yourself how much of that time was necessary.

Yes, a lot of people use this app to message their friends, but I'd bet a lot of this time was spent scrolling like a zombie. Social media apps are deliberately designed to make you do that, after all.

I'm not here to tell you how to spend your 'chill time', but I have never felt fulfilled after finishing one of these hypnotic scrolling sessions. Always, I wish I'd used the time more productively.

Even if I was completely drained on a train with nothing to do but stare at my phone, I'd still rather have watched something funny or interesting.

While I'm sure there are some IG models that post useful or humorous content, that's not most of them.

Time is the only currency we can't get more of. When you're in your final years, how will you feel looking back at the 1+ hour a day spent scrolling through pictures of pretty girls?

2. It's not even close to real

As if the make-up, filters, perfect lighting and flattering angles weren't enough, these women are also altering the shape of their face and body with apps like FaceTune.

I've watched a woman transform herself into a completely different person with a slimmer stomach, thinner face and tinier legs. Mind-blowing!

Check out the sub-reddit r/instagramreality for the most extreme examples of this.

3. It's potentially bad for your mental health

The effects of exposure to unobtainable beauty on women's mental health is well-documented, but it can be harmful for guys too.

When you're scrolling through these endless (and not real) images of perfection, it's completely natural to compare them, either to yourself or people you're dating.

Often, it'll trick you into thinking that you or your partners aren't as beautiful as they really are.

Also, when I personally see pictures on Instagram of a beautiful woman who I'll never date, it frustrates me.

It's like staring into a five-star restaurant through the windows — and when you're really hungry (or should I say thirsty), that's got to be extra-frustrating.

If you ever stare into your Instagram feed and feel disappointed about the hand you were dealt, maybe it's time to ask what you're really getting out of following that account.

What do guys really get from this?

I understand that some women follow these models for fashion and photography inspiration. Honestly, I have no interest in either of these topics so I can't offer an opinion.

That's not why most men are following these accounts though...

A lot of guys follow to get lost in the fantasy of dating these women. A desire for escapism is completely normal, but surely there are funnier, more interesting ways to take your mind off things?

If it's the sexual fantasy you're specifically looking for, there are millions of more *ahem* stimulating websites you can watch during your alone time.

Then, there's the guys who try to shoot their shot by leaving comments, sliding in the DMs or even sending money to these women. These guys craving some sort of virtual relationship (or more) with IG models should be aware of the odds.

You are one of god-knows-how-many random guys on the internet trying to get her attention. Even if you get it, how likely are you to develop a real emotional connection?

And even if you get that, you're still choosing to invest your emotions into pixels and words on a screen.

This is perhaps the most dangerous side-effect of all.

After all, when you spend time investing into a virtual woman, it prevents you from connecting with women in real life.

Just like the influencer who tries to engage with their millions of followers, you also only have so much love to give.

So, I'd suggest you stop following these virtual babes, and use the extra time to connect with your passions and people in the real world.