Michael Stipe has announced his decision to leave Instagram, as Stereogum notes. “I maintain that we deserve better platforms for expression and communion,” he wrote in a farewell message. “I know that someone not too far away is a breath away from presenting this next level humanist platform—and I cannot wait to rejoin the conversation. Until then, vote and be heard.” Read his full post below.

Stipe’s statement arrives after he discussed his problems with social media in an interview with BBC’s “Newsnight”: “Politics have been shaped by it, certainly in my country,” he said. “We have a commander-in-chief who, rather than doing face-to-face interviews like this, would rather just tweet, which I find repellent and diminishing.” Scroll down to watch his interview.

Earlier this month, R.E.M. announced a massive new box set, R.E.M at the BBC, due out October 19.