Finsta: The Real Side of Social Media

When you wear a trendy, new outfit, you post a picture on Instagram. When you take a great picture with your friends before going out, you post it on Instagram. When you take drunk pictures or an “ugly” selfie, you post it on your “finsta.”

In a world where social media presence dominates all else, it’s hard to find genuineness while scrolling through a feed of gorgeous, yet edited photographs. A fake Instagram, or “finsta”, is a place where social media users can finally be themselves. It is an additional Instagram account in which users posts pictures not suitable for their  real Instagram account (or “rinsta”) and allow only a small group of close friends to follow them.

Out of all forms of social media, Instagram is where our looks matter the most. It’s where we post our artsy, glamorous pictures, and hope that we get a lot of likes. But “finsta” is the opposite. A “finsta” is a private world where people can show their sense of humor with a funny selfie. It’s where they can post blurry pictures from the frat party they went to last night. It’s a social media platform in which appearances and likes don’t matter; it’s all about being yourself. It’s about embracing imperfections.

It’s refreshing to take a break from the high pressure world of social media where what we wear and how we look is what is most important. Of course, it’s great to post a beautiful picture of your new haircut, or a photo showing off your new shoes, but social media lacks authenticity. Everyone always looks happy with perfect hair and perfect makeup, and this is often not their reality. "Finsta" is the place to tell the true story of how you feel; fake smiles aren’t necessary.

The fashion world seems to be imitating this same sense of authenticity. With celebrities like Alicia Keys going make up free on the red carpet, and more “real” looking models walking in runway shows, the industry is focusing less on unattainable beauty and more on realistic looks. Models like Ashley Graham are so popular because they are proud of their body types. Graham was praised for posting a picture of her cellulite, proving that imperfection is in and unattainable beauty is out.

“Finsta” is the necessary escape that every social media user desperately needs. While some see “finsta” as just a trend, I’m hoping it’s here to stay. As social media begins to take over our social lives, it’s important to have a place where we can be our true selves - where we don’t have to spend hours editing a picture or finding the perfect lighting. Instagram is like the filtered versions of our self, but a fake Instagram is where we can finally be real. I know, it’s pretty ironic.