Instagram…Where do I even begin? I tend to have a habit of deactivating my account for days, weeks, sometimes even months and then returning as if I didn’t just disappear. I could have gone through the worst times of my life, but nobody would bat an eye because my profile would, of course, appear pleasant and dandy. A lot of people have questioned me about my on-and-off-again patterns and honestly, I never know how to answer the question.
So here I am, trying to figure it all out.
Instagram usually consists of showing off a lifestyle and persona that is not our authentic selves. I’m not saying that everything on Instagram is utter bullshit, but I’m saying that we present the best versions of ourselves online. We don’t see the full picture, just the side we choose to show.
I have also noticed that many people judge people’s character completely based off of their profile. How many likes they receive, who comments on what, and whether or not this individual is attractive. It’s sad, really.
This all makes me want to run away from it all and get away from the toxicity that is social media.
For a platform that was created for the sole purpose to share photos and express creativity, there seems to be a lot of unnecessary rules. I never understood why double posting was ever a big deal. In the Instagram world, it’s looked down upon if you want to post more than once. I will never understand this. It’s limiting and the amount of people who feel self-conscious about posting is overwhelming. I have spoken to many people about this and it’s a very common feeling. Most people I know feel insecure every time they post a photo, which is troubling.
Instagram is supposed to fire up creativity, but I find that it ironically kills individuality.
I don’t understand the hype about Instagram influencers, who profit off of heavily-edited photos and unrealistic beauty standards. It’s great that people are able to use their looks and body as a means of receiving attention, but I really believe that Instagram influencers cross the line. The unrealistic body proportions and the superficial appeal doesn’t intrigue me one bit. Yet, they all have massive followings. My question is: What are their personalities actually like? Do they really have anything to offer besides a pretty face? Maybe I’m being overly critical, but I will never get the hype.
But, at the end of the day, Instagram, as well as all social media platforms in general, are great ways of connecting with others and documenting special moments in life. I love being able to know what’s going on in my community and I’m guilty of living vicariously through other people’s vacation posts. The platform itself is amazing, but it’s the social pressures and shallowness of it all that really drags it down for me. The worst part is, I’m guilty of all the negative aspects I just listed. I do limit myself on posting because of what others may think, but it shouldn’t be this way.
At the end of the day, Instagram is just an app.
Don’t take it too seriously and enjoy the creative space it enables.
Featured Image Credit: TONL