While you will never find me on TikTok, I’ve been on Facebook for more than a decade. And it’s only been a few months since I started to actively post on Instagram. It took me a while to warm up to it because I thought IG was just a platform used by people mainly to flaunt their lavish lifestyle, good looks, and perpetuate certain unrealistic standards of beauty that I believe can potentially be harmful to others. But the more I dive into the social media world, the more I realize how powerful of a tool it actually is and how its contents can trigger not just negative but also positive emotions.
In recent years, it’s clear that social media influencers have become a major force in determining what is popular and desirable. In the process they have amassed huge followings by sharing their lives, showcasing their beauty, or promoting products. Inevitably they have also created a new set of expectations that many people feel they must live up to in order to be considered attractive, worthy, or good enough to get ahead in life.
We may not all want to admit it, but many people now feel this immense pressure to conform to these unattainable standards. If I’m being honest, I myself have felt it once or twice in the past. I’d describe it as a feeling of inadequacy and perhaps even low self-esteem which I experienced while watching certain influencers’ content. Subsequently I found myself daydreaming and wondering what it would be like to be that person.
Lucky for me, snapping out of it was fairly easy. All I needed was some positive affirmations and to remind myself that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Each person is unique and has their own distinct features that make them beautiful and special. That’s why while I enjoy watching a transformative makeup tutorial on social media for tips and tricks, I still prefer to wear minimal makeup. That’s one of the many ways I embrace my individuality.
My absolute favorite side of Instagram
Aside from being entertained, when I scroll Instagram what I really love are the many influencers who have championed body positivity, encouraged self-love, and challenged traditional beauty standards. They have also helped to normalize features like cellulite, alopecia, and stretch marks, which were once considered taboo.
Let’s not forget those influencers who have used their platforms to showcase diversity, creating more space for women of color, plus-size individuals, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to be seen and celebrated. They have also pushed the boundaries of traditional gender roles, with male influencers challenging toxic masculinity and promoting self-care and emotional vulnerability.
With so many riveting contents floating around on social media, you really shouldn’t let yourself be distracted by posts that have the potential to make you doubt your self-worth. Don’t let people you don’t even know make you believe a certain look (body type, skin color, height, eye color etc..) is more desirable or more beautiful than another look. That’s a lie. Time to go back to living in the real world.
We must understand that the majority of posts on social media is often a highlight reel of someone’s life, and may not accurately represent their day-to-day reality. By reminding ourselves of this, we can start to view social media with a more critical eye and avoid idealizing other people’s lives. The bottom line is this: Social Media is just a tool; it’s up to us to use it in a healthy and positive way. By being mindful of the content we consume and how it affects our perceptions of ourselves and others, we can work towards a healthier relationship with social media and by extension the world around us too.
Are certain social media contents making you doubt your self-worth?
Here are a few steps you can take to avoid getting influenced by social media contents:
- Follow influencers whose contents are uplifting and positive.
- Unfollow anyone who creates negative or triggering content that affects your mood.
- Be mindful of what you consume on social media. If you see something that triggers negative emotions, stop immediately.
- Always remind yourself that not one person is the same on this earth. Embrace your uniqueness. It’s beautiful.
- When you start feeling overwhelmed by social media, take a break for a few days to reconnect with yourself.
- If social media is truly impacting your daily life, seek help from a therapist or counselor. They can help you manage your emotions and develop strategies to cope with negative influences.
✨Live With Intent✨