My Personal Life And Instagram Have Nothing In Common
My life and Instagram have nothing in common
When my account got viral a few years ago, I would post daily. I didn’t care much about the number of likes I got, I knew I was getting the traction I wanted. I couldn’t have done this so easily if it wasn’t for my best friend and partner. He would ask me very often: "Oh, cool spot, maybe you want to take a picture?" And then obediently press the shutter button a hundred times. One hundred photos that are almost identical to the hundred he took the day before. But, I would take one of that photo and post on Instagram every single day
My friend suddenly turned into an "Insta-husband"
My life is fun, indeed lovely enough to write home about. To be honest, I sometimes get the comment that my life is so enjoyable that someone else would like to take it over from me. I travel regularly, live in the middle of the most beautiful city in the Netherlands, have a great guy at home, and earn enough money to go shopping. But I don't know if this is the reason for my almost compulsive social media behavior.
Half the time, my feed isn't about those enviously fun things. My schedule is packed, so I don't have time to shoot a photo during a shoot, interview, lunch, workout, holiday, dinner, or party. You won't find all the things that really matter on my timeline or feed. What I post is forced and created during the most boring moment of my day, namely the moments when I have time for it.
This does not alter the fact that the locations are top, and I put my heart and soul into the styling. It's just not my life. My real life is not online. Most of my life is not captured on camera, and it’s actually boring. The guy I wanted to impress a few years ago has become an 'insta-husband.' Yes, that is a term now, maybe soon it will get also in the dictionary.
Is this a missed opportunity?
Besides, I am starting to get the idea that, unlike many people, I profile my life a lot more boring than it actually is. "Take a picture at the entrance, and then I can share that I have been here." Otherwise, book a flight with a few stops, it seems as if we have packed an extra city;) "Give me your smoothie, I think it is a bit more photogenic than my own."
You have not seen me. I am someone who forgets to take a picture in the chaos. Instead, I pose afterward for a meaningless, but fun colored wall, so that I can inform my followers of what I am wearing and on which continent I am hanging out. I don't make enough money with social media to quit my full-time job, and I don't become a better person with social media. My life seems to be flat and gray, while it is just a big mess of colors. Why don't I try my best to shoot 'during'? I prefer to eat my food when it is still warm, so I hurry a lot, and the shot is not perfect as you see it on may other profiles.
Every day, online flow gives more power.
Why do I do my best to share 'something' regularly? Every day I feel the online flow increasing—high expectations!
We are aware of the ridiculously high value we place on our online persona. We know that more than half of everything we see online has undergone even more cuts than the average Hollywood production. Those bloggers are part of marketing strategies, and everyone suddenly looks good in a bikini. Thanks to the masses of helpful YouTube tutorials' on how to slim yourself down with Photoshop'.
Girls look up to women who are just as fake as the Barbies they played with last year. We are subconsciously drawn in webshop after webshop, but all we learn is how we can make our face with ten different shades resemble Kim Kardashian's. More and more often, I wonder why I did not get off this bus long ago ... but anyhow, I here now, so I should just enjoy it, right?