Instagram was my 'guilty pleasure', if you will. I was a freshmen in high school when it became popular and the place everyone went to see the most recent breakup and makes ups.
By my junior/senior year I had the art of making a post down to a science. Choosing the right filter to fit the picture but to also fit along with my insta profile. For example; making sure there has been an appropriate amount of days between the last post, the post includes people who weren't in the last couple of posts, or even making sure it was posted at the right time. A lot went into making the "perfect post". The perfect post is the one where you get a surprising number of likes. With every notification that would pop up about the post came thoughts about why that person liked it. "I bet she only liked it because she was jealous she wasn't there, I wonder if I made her mad." Or "I wonder what it means that HE liked my picture??" "thanks for liking my pic but don't expect a like back!"
What is this? OVERTHINKING.
The biggest problem I had with Instagram or social media in general is the concept of a girl liking a guys picture (or vice versa) and it was grounds for a breakup?
Since when did relationships rely on a likes from your 'followers' with some you've never met in person. If your boyfriend/girlfriend didn't post a #MCM or #WCW that meant y'all weren't together or you thought they were cheating. Since when did the basis of your relationship come from likes on social media? Does every Monday or Wednesday have to be filled with emotionless posts where you're just going through the motions?
What about the post you make indirectly about your friend. The one where you call them your 'BEST FRIEND FOREVER!!!" leaving out your true friend because they wanted to stay home and study? You wouldn't think something as simple as a post to Instagram could hurt feelings or damage a friendship.
Instagram is great, seeing friends from high school and encouraging posts from friends but when is enough a enough?
Should someone's happiness, self worth, or relationship status be determined by a picture with a few words underneath. Sadly we live in a world now where it does.
