Going With The Flow Without Caring About The ~Flow~

There are those times when we contemplate over VSCO filter C1 versus F2, psychoanalyzing which would better complement that Instagram flow; those times when we take one hundred pictures plus, striking poses until the phone runs out of space; those times when our friends transform into their PR alter-egos and dissect for hours which interchangeable picture deserves our feed’s spotlight.

Yet, there are also those other times. Those times when we throw on our favorite outfits, attend some celebration with friends, snap a shot or two to capture the moment, and post on Instagram to share these special experiences. These are the times when I revel in social media platforms like Instagram; when the pictures on my feed demonstrate the wealth of adventures I’ve enjoyed with the people most important to me. However, Instagram—as well as other platforms—has transformed into a source of anxiety for millennials globally. The image we publicize via our Instagram feed has been misinterpreted as a reliable indication of our self-worth and beauty. Thus, our Instagram feed's appearance and the craze to take that perfect picture are consuming the digital age generation.

In response to this current cultural reality, many users have logged off Instagram. With hyper-edited Instagrams and fabricated virtual personas, an increasing percentage of millennials have deleted their accounts and have rejected social media altogether. These Gram-rebels’ motto? “Instagram is not real life,” which is so very true.

“Pics or it didn’t happen” was my pre-college mentality in a nutshell. My obsessive nature over my Insta image prevented me from living an organic childhood. The focus of my cultural excursions was to capture the perfect gram that screamed sophistication. Formal events in chic venues were intended for that gram that hints at my classiness and my never-ending #foodporn was meant to capture my trendiness. With the incessant photoshoots and late night photo editing, I forgot to look at the art, experience the events with loved ones, and even eat the food.

By no means am I trying to convert readers into Gram-rebels; in truth, I am trying to do just the opposite. Over the past few years, I’ve realized that there is an achievable, healthy balance between an airbrushed existence and an Instagram martyr. The ease in sharing pictures is a very special element of modern day, but allow posting to be an afterthought of your experiences. Have that self-confidence to post however many selfies you desire and forget about those likes! Don’t allow real-life experiences to take a backseat to virtual ones.