Who hasn't felt the pressure of the social media take over and the pressure for the perfect picture? Always earning more likes the less dressed one is. However, you ever look at your account and wonder if it's really you?
Imagine just posting a picture, eagerly waiting for the right time to get the right amount of likes, mostly from people who don't even know you. Asking for caption ideas, and trying to look as cool or sexy as possible. And do you ever post what you really think of feel?
Suddenly, popularity is transformed by the number at the bottom of a photo. Friendships become determined by who gets you the most likes in the photo. Instagram should be a fun, honest thing. Something your friends laugh at and people who actually care about you follow. Likes should be real likes for who you are. Post a selfie. Post whenever and whatever you want. Whether you get two likes or two thousand — if the picture makes you happy — keep it.
Consider this; are finstas the real you? A smaller Instagram full of bad selfies and long rants. Some of them get too seductive, but the concept is much more authentic than a "real" Instagram. If our social media is fake, what does that say about us as a whole?
My great friend took a year long Instagram break. She took a break from all social media but Snapchat. She said it was such a relief being away from it. She stayed off her phone more, and lived in the present. I took a month long break twice — I loved it. I highly recommend ditching your phone of social media for some you time once in awhile.
So post your pics, be wild and show the world. But be you too. Happy October, Bobcats.
Lauren Sheil is a freshman studying strategic communication at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you have a finsta? Let Lauren know by tweeting her @laurensheil101.
