Escaping the Performance of Social Media

By: Vaishnavi Tiwari

How would you feel about being constantly looked at? And would you, by any chance, mind it if you were to be paid for it? Imagine posting about the right to privacy while having none or worrying about missing a sunset not because you would miss its beauty but because you might lose some followers if you are not “aesthetic enough.” 

Imagine sprinting to the beach, hoping someone snapped your “candid” shots, or buying clothes you’d never wear just because everyone online is wearing them. After all, what’s the point of having an Instagram if you don’t?

The influence of modern media has taken over Gen Z and has made them question every aspect of themselves. There’s always an underlying pressure to do something “out of the box”, something that makes you look extraordinary, but not different. 

Modern media and its rapidly evolving trends can rival several governments in the speed at which they adapt to shifts in public opinion and priorities, making it a surprisingly close contest. Everyday something new takes over the entire internet and you might think what is so wrong about new artists breaking charts or new talents emerging, well, that’s not entirely true about trends. 

The fluidity of online trends and the pressure to conform can hinder the development of a strong, internal sense of self. Hundreds and thousands of people doing the same thing can turn out to be self-deceiving and can lead to anxiety and fomo, this is like being in a room full of mirrors and you see every version of yourself that you aspire to be, constantly staring at you. How would you feel? Would you mind it, if you were to be paid for it? 

At this point, being on social media is almost like preparing for a competitive examination, except there’s no prize, if you’ve ever felt like you’re not exceptionally beautiful or you don’t have a closet full of vintage clothes or a camera that can capture anything but pure moments, or a friend group to use that camera on, you’re already in. You’re literally living Matilda’s life and you deserve something far better than Crunchem Hall Primary School. So, you can stop preparing. 
 

“The life you see on social media is far from reality”, isn’t this something you’ve already seen on instagram and have liked it, most probably have saved it too? I have. I like to remind myself that whatever I scroll might not be anywhere on the spectrum of happiness or enjoyment. It's kind of a known fact, but you’re allowed to have your own definition of happiness or enjoyment where you get to be you. The world is so much more than just following a trend or indulging yourself into place full of delusional mirrors. 

You might have heard this one too, guess it's not all about living like Matilda, you can find Miss Honey somewhere too, somewhere out of that box, where you don’t have to be a total stranger to yourself. 

And maybe, just maybe, being true to yourself is the boldest trend you’ll ever follow.