The Social Media Self-Image Circus

How Instagram Filters, Memes, and Cat Videos Shape Our Self-Perception

Sep 26, 2024

Hello, my dear amazing readers!!!!

Welcome to the latest edition of "Why Do I Look Like That?" - your one-stop guide to understanding how scrolling through TikTok and Instagram can turn a perfectly confident human into a bundle of self-doubt in 3.58 seconds.

Have you ever looked in the mirror after seeing a flawless influencer pic and thought, “Did I miss the human assembly line when they were handing out chiseled cheekbones and perfect hair?”

If yes, sit tight because we’re about to take a wild ride through the world of social media and self-perception.

The Great Filter Face-Off

Once upon a time, selfies meant standing in terrible lighting, hoping your camera wouldn’t betray you, and praying for a decent shot. But then came filters, which are basically Photoshop on steroids. Today, you can swipe left, and suddenly, your skin’s as smooth as glass, your nose looks like it was sculpted by the gods, and your eyes have doubled in size, making you look either ethereal or like a high-definition alien. Either way, it’s a whole mood.

I might sound old here, but trust me, those things were created in 2010/11, when I was 8. So I got to know about these AFTER I experienced a period of horrible selfies…. So yeah…

me trying to find good lighting and an angle to take a selfie without looking like a crushed box of matches….

Anyways, have you ever caught yourself wishing you looked more like yourself... with a filter? This is the Snapchat Filter Paradox, where you get so used to your digitally altered face that your real one feels like it’s in desperate need of a software update. But remember, behind every filtered selfie is someone with a regular, glorious human face, pores, dark circles, and all.

Karen’s “Exotic” Vacation

Picture Karen (yes a Karen), your average 9-to-5 worker who just posted the most envy-inducing beach vacation photos on Instagram. Palm trees, glowing skin, and a sunrise so magical it could heal your soul.

The truth? Karen was actually at her local pool, battling sunburn, while swatting away a rogue pigeon. Her vacation glow was thanks to a few handy filters, a well-angled shot, and a week of stockpiled Instagram captions.

this is the reality of social media. do I even have to say anything?

Social media is a virtual Hollywood, where a trip to the grocery store can look like an expedition through the Maldives. We see a lot of polished perfection that makes us feel like our mundane lives can’t compete — but remember, behind that “just woke up like this” selfie, there’s probably someone who spent 30 minutes editing out their morning bedhead.

Why We All Feel Like Potatoes

We’ve all been there: late-night scrolling, potato chip crumbs on your shirt, hair doing its own thing, and suddenly there’s Ava (No offense if there’s any Avas here!), posting her third gym pic of the day, flaunting abs that look like they were drawn on. Meanwhile, you’re debating whether it’s worth getting up to refill your snack bowl. Cue the internal monologue: “Why am I like this? Should I be doing yoga at 5 AM? Is it too late for me?”

Here’s the reality: you’re comparing your unfiltered, pajama-clad life to someone’s highlight reel. Ava probably took 136 photos, edited them down to one, and in real life, might’ve collapsed in a heap right after, binge-watching the same show as you. We’re all victims of the comparison game, but the rules are rigged from the start, you’re competing with carefully curated content that hides all the messy, human stuff that didn’t make the cut.

Todd’s Fitness Fail

Meet Todd, who after seeing an influencer deadlift a weight that could anchor a small boat, decided to get serious about fitness. He hit the gym with newfound motivation, visions of rock-hard abs dancing in his head. But three squats in, Todd’s legs turned to jelly, and by the time leg day was over, he couldn’t sit without grimacing for a week. The influencer? They probably recorded that one set for their post and then went home to devour a burrito.

Fitness influencers have perfected the art of making tough workouts look effortless, but here’s the thing: nobody shows the aftermath, the soreness, the failed reps, the “maybe I’ll just skip leg day forever” thoughts. Social media’s highlight reels often skip the struggles, leaving us with an unrealistic view of what’s normal.

Strategies to Survive the Scroll

If your self-esteem has taken a hit after seeing one too many photos of avocado toast and sun-kissed models who seem to live on vacation, it’s time to take control. Here’s how you can maintain your sanity and keep that self-perception intact:

Reality Check
Those impossibly smooth faces? Filters. That stunning sunrise? Saturation boost. Everyone’s out here applying filters to make their lives look shinier than they actually are. Don’t let it fool you into thinking your normal, unfiltered life isn’t just as great (and way more real).
Unfollow the Highlight Reels
If certain accounts make you feel like you’re not enough, hit that unfollow button with zero guilt. Replace them with accounts that make you laugh, teach you something, or show you the beautifully chaotic side of life. Pro tip: Animal memes work wonders.
in my opinion, this is 1000 times better than the latest Kim Kardashian beach photo shoot… No hate!
Set a Timer: The 5-Minute Scroll
Limit your scrolls to 5-minute intervals. Anything longer, and you risk getting sucked into the “why does everyone seem to have it all together except me?” vortex. Trust me, these days after 5 minutes, you’ve seen enough.
Post Your Reality
Let’s normalize the messiness. Post that pile of laundry, the failed kitchen experiment, or your bedhead in all its glory. People are craving authenticity more than you know, and your real-life content will be a breath of fresh air in a sea of hyper-curated perfection. Not that each and every one in Social media is fake. There are genuine people but very rare.
Laugh
Social media is a bit like a giant circus where everyone’s performing. Some are juggling their careers, some are tightrope walking through parenting, and others are just there for the cat videos. If you can learn to laugh at the absurdity, it loses its power over you.

You’re More Than a Filter

At the end of the day, social media is like a funhouse mirror — it distorts reality and leaves us with a warped sense of self. You don’t need to look like a heavily filtered influencer to be awesome. You’re already the main character in your story, and real life is a lot messier (and better) than the highlights you see online.

So, next time you find yourself deep in a comparison spiral, remember: Behind every perfect pic is a human with insecurities, struggles, and probably some pizza stains. Stay real, laugh at the circus, and keep rocking that beautiful, unfiltered self!

This week’s recommendation 👻💕

Annalisa Caminarecci

So what do you think?

Spooky with Izel

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