Still think it is? Let me tell you otherwise!
It has been a minute since I have seen a ‘boomerang’ on Instagram stories, two girls in front of the camera, painstakingly holding an espresso martini in their hand and smiling at a tilt, posing for the nth time. Those boomerangs describe what 2016-2019 felt like. A series of fleeting moments gone too soon to enjoy and understand fully. Then came 2020. I doubt there is any need to reiterate what took place during that time. The realm of our Instagram feed was abruptly limited to the beige walls of our home. Unbeknownst to us, the rose-coloured filters were dropped from the pictures and reels uploaded on the page. My eyes were no longer scrolling past the iconic white and blue shades of Santorini, Greece, but rather to the familiar feeling of cooking spaghetti and meatballs: the messy flour decorating the counter, and the sink overflowing to the brim. Finally, a sight known and accustomed universally. The pandemic undoubtedly brought permanent changes to the economy, workplace, and society. But it also shifted the landscape of social media as a platform. In other words, social media was about to get real.
This shift in the algorithm of content on social media platforms like Instagram became noticeable in the latter half of 2019, with the emergence of 'finsta' accounts—fake Instagram accounts where users can post any picture or content without adhering to the 'visually appealing grid' layout of their main account. These posts often include funny pictures, comical gestures, and memes that users prefer not to share with their main account followers. On their finsta accounts, users feel free to post content they find enjoyable or entertaining without second thoughts. Finsta accounts are typically followed by close friends and family.
Understanding the purpose of a finsta, this notion of 'real' or 'unaesthetic' content was amplified, perhaps exaggerated, post-COVID-19, and in a favorable manner. The Gen Z audience is driving this new pattern emerging across Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. Gen Z spends around six hours on social media daily, and their demand for content features authenticity and vulnerability. They can discern between scripted and genuine content, highlighting a crucial point: social media can no longer fool its audience. The need for relatable or universally appealing content has significantly increased.
According to an article by Grazia India, Gen Z audiences are in "control of their online image." They are well aware of the internet's dynamics and consciously choose to post images that reflect their true selves. This marks a major shift in how social media is perceived. A fitting example of this control over content is the viral online vine, "I Remember When I Lost My Marbles!"
Several reels are going viral to the online song created from a vine, ‘I remember when I lost my marbles!’ — where people are recounting their embarrassing moments of going out of the way to impress their crush online. One reel shows a woman recounting when her crush said he liked women who worked out, and she later posted a clip of her on Snapchat doing a bench press with her legs! Or when a guy remembered the time when his crush said they liked Drake, and he posted a video of him lip syncing and dancing to Drake’s ‘Hotline Bling’. Posting those mortifying moments in life which flash by our eyes before sleeping, is brave indeed! These moments are ones which people would want to be buried with them till their grave, not showcasing it to the whole world to witness. People hopped on and shared many more such instances where they had a moment of weakness, just like any of us do, and shared it with the world. Adding to the message — in the name of love, we can do anything! Even if it means making a laughing stock out of ourselves. So why is this becoming viral? Some say it is a trend to just get likes and shares, but I would like to believe otherwise.
A platform like Instagram was established to connect the youth, contrasting with Facebook, which catered more to the older generation. As time passed and popular culture evolved, Instagram transformed from a social connection platform to a social 'LinkedIn' platform. Instead of job updates, people showcased their life updates in the most visually appealing manner. Everything seemed fake, and even if it wasn't, it was expected to be. There was no open communication between followers and those they followed. The sense of connection, reliability, and shared experience faded away. Social media became a collection of lifestyle comparisons.
However, with the introduction of reels like "I Remember When I Lost My Marbles" or makeup GRWM (Get Ready With Me) content, where women are no longer using filters and instead show their actual textured skin in its natural beauty, the tide is turning once more for the better. People are reconnecting over what makes us human: simple errors, messy lives, and healthy living. At the end of the day, these genuine experiences are what make us feel alive and connected across the globe—not a well-decorated and strategically placed bubble tea picture.
Memes, finstas, unedited posts and reels — it may seem insignificant, but it does have an impact on our understanding of social media. A study revealed that authentic self-expression on social media can have a good impact on our well-being depending on how one uses social media, not if they are on social media or not. Passively browsing through social media will harm your well-being, however actively communicating and reading through various selected posts on social media, can improve your well-being. Thus being on social media mindfully consuming content and uploading content is as authentic as one can get with social media. And that is what attracts more genuity and sincerity to your algorithm and your feed.
Social media has been around since 1997, and over time has evolved through various changes in technology and society. It is a fact that social media does harm young kids and is a bad influence. This is partly due to the heightened posts and edited material being spread around which leads to the youth having unreal expectations. Nonetheless, there is a new chapter in the book on social media. COVID-19 tarnished the whole idea of an ‘aesthetic life’ portrayed on our grids, and made us aware of who we are — human beings who are not entirely perfect, and that is fine. So why does our social media have to be so perfect? It’s time to reject aesthetics and accept authenticity in our online lives as well as offline. In posting those wacky pictures and hilarious reels, you might just find a whole community around the corner, just like you. Do what social media was originally meant for – connect!
