I Took The Filter Off My Instagram And I've Never Been Happier | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Social Media

I Took The Filter Off My Social Media And I've Never Been Happier

Likes and comments come second to self-expression.

103
Guy dabbing on the University of Alabama campus

Months ago I began a fitness page for all of my fitness content. I started this page because I was getting dozens of questions about dieting, workout routines, and what makes a healthy lifestyle. At the time, I felt like a burden to my followers to post so much fitness content on my personal account because I felt like my personal social media had to be the most polished version of myself. So, my fitness page was born.

I posted fitness content twice a day for about six months on this account, covering everything from the most hardcore deadlifting videos, to posts about mental health and positivity. Anything that came to my mind about mental and physical health, I posted about. And I was happy about this and truly enjoyed posting content. There was a problem, however. I felt like I was trying to separate my personality on social media.

With my fitness account, I was reaching many new people I had never met before. Eventually, the engagement with my account picked up and I was getting respectable numbers on my posts. As I said before, though, all of my fitness content was going to my fitness page and none of it was hitting my personal page. Separating the two eventually became exhausting because I was being entirely too selective with my personal account, and putting all the things that made me happy on my fitness account.

A few weeks back, I reluctantly made the transition to begin orienting my personal account towards fitness, and it could not have been a better move for my happiness. I was so reluctant because I had a complete misunderstanding of how I should approach social media. Before, I was doing it so my followers would be happy. Now, I do it because I want to be happy and be true to myself.

So often, people get so entirely caught up in their social media to a point where they become a caricature of themselves. Nothing seems authentic, and you can obviously see that they are adapting a false identity to push some kind of narrative. Whether this narrative is to satisfy some self-esteem issues, to entertain themselves, or even to make money, it concerns me to a point where I question everything I see on everyone's social media.

Is everything just an illusion on social media? People don't like to be entirely transparent about their lives, which is why they post the highlights on Instagram or Facebook. So rare is it to see the struggle of a person, who humbly presents it as authentically themselves. I was like this on my personal account – I only wanted people to see the best parts of everything because I felt like the burden of transparency was something they did not want to see.

"But won't future employers be turned away from your profile if everything is unfiltered?" is a real question I have been asked. First, employers should want to see what makes you an interesting and vulnerable human, especially if it's on social media. Second, if they don't like what they see from you being self-expressive (of course in good taste), you would probably be miserable working for them. Three, why would you want to look like everyone else?

Making the transition to posting what I want, regardless of my followers cares, has allowed me greater freedom to express myself, which is what I believe social media was created for. Additionally, authentic and totally transparent expression is becoming rarer as people put more filters on their faces, bodies, and lives. I have challenged myself to be true to myself – unfiltered.

I have never been happier.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

107684
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

20624
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

19077
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments