Social Media Pressures

Social media has become a big part of our society, but it doesn’t come

without it’s disadvantages. In this post will go through some of the issues I, myself have struggled with, but also what I feel others can relate too - and of course with some tips!

Selfies!

Everyone loves to look good right? You look good, you feel good! But when it comes to seflies why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Instagram is filled with beautiful influencers and models taking ”flawless” photos. Do you ever just see a post and you’re just like “ugh I wish I looked that good”. We’ve all been there! I am someone who at one point, was obsessed with taking selfies and editing my photos. Don’t get me wrong I love a good photoshoot in my room, but I now try to do it in a healthier way. I used to have countless amounts of editing apps on my phone. I would notice every single flaw in a photo and try to erase it - after all I have to look perfect on instagram! No I don’t, and neither do you! Your flaws make you unique. Your flaws make you flawless! In the past year I have ditched tons of editing apps. I now aim to use them to edit the lighting and backgrounds only. I have stopped editing myself. Why? Because I want to embrace my flaws, they make me who I am and I am beautiful! Yes I have a big forehead, I don‘t have flawless skin, my eyes aren’t perfectly symmetrical but I am me! One day I hope to be confident enough to take selfies without a snapchat filter but, baby steps! I promise you the majority of these influencers and models post well-edited photos, so do not put too much pressure on yourself!

Someone else's beauty is not the absence of your own!

Likes and followers

I saw a quote the other day that said “If you like the photo, who cares who likes the photo” read it, and read it again. If you’re posting a photo because you think you look good, then don’t get too worked up about likes! The amount of likes you get on a photo does not define you, at all! We’ve been convinced that you’re not “cool” or ”worthy“ if you don't get hundreds of likes - it‘s damaging. You are not an instagram post, you are human. People like you in real life - concentrate on that! The same goes for followers. People focus so much on their online presence and popularity. People can have thousands of followers and be unhappy and feel lonely. Not everything is how it seems on social media, so don’t put pressure on yourselves with likes and followers. It's okay to have targets, especially if you've got a business account, but try not to let it consume you and effect your thoughts and moods.

Lifestyle

Everyone on social media always seems to be living their best life don’t they? Eating the best food, going to the best places, wearing the latest fashion etc. People only post what they want you to see! Some people feel they need to be doing certain things because everyone on social media is doing it. Or people feel that they’re not doing enough because they’re not posting what they’re doing on social media! You do not have to post everything you do for validation, to prove your lifestyle or how you’re living. Social media is literally a snapshot of peoples real lives! Don’t compare yourself, everyone's situation is different. You can be inspired and learn from others, but bare in mind you do not know how someone is living their life just from their social media posts.

Managing who you have on social media

I don't know about you guys but I definitely went through a phase were I accepted everyone and anyone on my social media accounts. But as of recently I've stopped caring so much about many people I have on social media and concentrating more on who's posts actually bring me value and enjoyment. I realised I had a lot of people whose posts I found draining, and I thought to myself why do I even have them on my socials? So I went through my snapchat and deleted or muted anyone who I do not speak to or class as a "friend", peoples whose stories drain me or bring me 0 interest, and people who I did not actually know - If you're like me and tend to give your snapchat out when you're drunk you'll have more people on their you don't actually know than you thought! Now this sounds harsh but you actually do not owe anybody anything, you do not have to keep anyone you don't want to on your socials. And I also feel we need to take it a little less personally when people delete us - it does not mean that the person hates you.

I also have been trying unfollow people on my personal instagram, but thats a much longer process as I was following A LOT of people. Cleanse your social media accounts every so often, you'll be surprised what kind of difference it can make to your social media experience.

I also lately have been feeling anxious to post on my social media, snapchat in particular, due to fear of judgement. I would post on my story and literally want to delete it 5 minutes afterwards. If you have a lot of people on snapchat and don't want to go through and delete people, private stories are a great way to filter out who can see you posts and may help to eliminate some anxious feelings if you only share posts with people you feel comfortable with. Do what makes you feel comfortable online, its your social media platform and you do not owe anybody an explanation.

Tyras Top Tips

1. If you like selfie, post the selfie! Whether you get 5 likes or 500, you are beautiful. The amount of likes you get does not reflect your worth!

2. Filters are fab and editing photos is okay, some people do it for fun but don’t put pressure on yourself to look “perfect”, everyone has flaws, it makes us who we are. Learn to love and embrace them.

3. You are still just as cool whether you have 50 followers or 500. Engage with the people that matter to you and make you feel good about yourself.

4. Don’t feel like you’re not proving yourself if you’re not posting everything online. Share what you feel comfortable with and what you want to share. You don’t need to seek validation from others and you do not need to prove yourself.

5. Social media is meant to be fun! Delete, block, unfollow anyone who takes this away from you.

I'm going to let you guys choose my next blog topic so keep an eye out on my instagram to vote! x