I’m sure many of you have heard of a “finsta” which is technically short for “fake instagram”. This is a newer phenomenon on Instagram in which many people, specifically young girls, post pictures that they would not post normally on their real Instagram or “rinsta”. Common posts include embarrassing photos, funny photos, day-to-day frustrations and rants, exciting news, and most importantly, raw, unedited photos. Yes, that means no filter.

The concept of a finsta is backwards. Here’s why.

A finsta is a much truer representation of a person’s life than is a rinsta. The finsta encompasses human emotions and reveals true feelings that do not necessarily translate to a regular Instagram. These feelings and aspects of daily life are very normal and people should feel they can share them openly, without creating a top-secret Instagram account only accessible by a select group of people.

On the other hand, the rinsta is a carefully curated collection of photos that may or may not accurately depict a person’s life. Many viewers are unaware of the careful preparation and specific steps taken before the final product is published on Instagram. Millennials spend countless hours editing, re-editing, and filtering photos in order to create the perfect post. The photo should look good on the Instagram feed or “grid” and should compliment previous posts. Most importantly, the photo needs an all-star caption that perfectly encapsulates the contents of the image.

I think you’re starting to catch onto the idea that a finsta could easily be labeled a rinsta.

This is not to say that I am innocent of practicing any number of these behaviors. I and most people I know, are most definitely guilty of placing too much importance on social media and trying to put forth the best representation of ourselves that we can. Maybe to your surprise, I too have a finsta. I only began to realize how strange this trend was until I found myself unleashing my own personal thoughts, feelings, and some strange daily experiences on a private social media account.

I kept thinking to myself that these posts are far more authentic than the picture I just posted using VSCO C2 preset.

I love when I see my friends post a picture on Instagram that is totally raw and quirky, but that shows who they really are. They aren’t concerned with who will see, how many likes they will get, and what they look like. They are just being themselves, which is something I think all of us should do more often.