"What is a finsta?" inquired the puzzled mother, teacher, and grandpa. A 'finsta' is a 'fake instagram,' only it's not actually fake- it's a real, legitimate Instagram account. It's got followers, photos, and likes. Almost all teenagers have one, but they're quick to deny their existence- especially if they don't want to accept your follow request. A finsta is essentially a spam account in which a teenager, or anybody at that rate, can post the photos that they just don't deem nice enough for their real Instagram's feed. Not only is the finsta a source of throwaway photos, but it also acts as a tool for people to post their funniest, most embarrassingly comical moments. Finstas are known for having fun, often pun-related name-associated usernames, and they're good places to store tons of photos and memories, without having to worry about losing a follower or not getting any likes. Because on the finsta- it doesn't matter.
You're probably wondering why I'm going on and on about an unnecessary social media account. Well, as funny as they are and perhaps as unnecessary as they seem, finstas have an underlying importance. Finstas promote carefree, funny posts that you only want to be private, only seen by the eyes of your friends. With that being said, finstas aren't actually just for funny posts. Finstas allow a lot of teenagers to share their feelings they would be way too shy to actually post on a public account. It takes some boldness to share an opinion with 1,000 strangers- but how about with 30-40 friends? That isn't so bad. Finstas, as much as they can be overly filled with spam or be annoying, play an important role in allowing teenagers to have a voice, especially in their darkest times. On finstas, teenagers aren't as terrified to ask for help from their friends or as nervous to share the dark times they are going through. I'm not necessarily sure what gives finstas this effect, but perhaps it's the sense of privacy or the feeling of being able to reach out to 30 friends at once.
Finstas are an outlet for some teenagers, especially the ones that are too nervous to approach others in real life to ask for help, advice, or simply a shoulder to cry on. As silly as they seem, and as much as I'm sure the trend will die out in a couple of years or so, finstas genuinely aren't the worst thing that social media has yet to produce. If a teenager can feel safe and as though they have a voice and people there for them, having to scroll through a couple of funny memes or embarrassing pictures of friends is a small price to pay.