I’ll be the first to admit as soon as I wake up in the morning I check my Instagram account and email inbox. I simply cannot help myself. There is no denying we are a generation obsessed with social media. We can’t avoid it. As much as I wish I was a little “less attached”, I think social media is an extraordinary tool for business and even for your personal life, if used well.
But, how do we eliminate the urge to see numbers on our posts in order to feel accepted? Why are we constantly looking for ways to feel accepted through social media?
This generation relies so much on constant gratification from what other people think of us. These people whom are thousands of miles away and we have never met them seem to be an important piece of our online social media presence puzzle.. They may not speak our language or understand our post, but their like an important element in being seen and recognized through the online world.
With the way Instagram has changed its’ algorithm over the last few weeks, it’s even more validated to post and wait for the likes indicator to light up. Why? Why are our minds trained to feel a sense of acceptance from people we have never met? And most importantly, how will this affect the next generation?
Social media has many negative impacts, especially on the younger generation. Social media has been linked to an increase in eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Girls are especially affected as they feel like they need self-validation from their Instagram posts. As silly as it sounds it’s so easy to get caught up in that cycle. And for some, it is very difficult to get out f this regime.
I think if we ever have low self-esteem days, we need to learn how to deal with them differently, instead of Instagram stalking the girl who has 1.2 million followers and is constantly laying on a beach somewhere. No one’s life is perfect 24/7. We have the ability to alter our lives and show a “highlights reel”.
You wouldn’t see women posting photos of themselves after being stuck on a delayed train for hours, hair messy and patchy foundation. Maybe there should be an Instagram account dedicated to that….
So, point of this post? Unplug. Remove yourself from social media every so often and get to know you and the person you have become or the person you are becoming. Reflect and take a break from what society thinks you should be and be who and what you want to be. In the end, self-love is the only love you need to concern yourself of.
With Love | Nikki xo