In my college level writing class one of the first things we talk about is reliable sources. What makes something or someone reliable? Who can we trust out there on the interweb? And, most importantly, how do we sort through the bullsh*t? The problem of reliability seems to become even more convoluted when we go onto social media platforms like Instagram, where influencers and advertisements make it all too easy to begin to doubt how one lives their own life and its authenticity/fun in comparison to others. 

Influencers Trying to Help 

There are several bloggers who attempt to address the unrealistic portrayals of reality many influencers post, however, it is critical to realize these influencers are explicitly showcasing this because the internet has gotten so far out of hand. Perhaps one of the most influential accounts comes from @danaemercer. With over 1.6 million followers, Danae indicates through the bio section of her Instagram that her purpose is to “[help] folks feel normal.” Through side-by-side photos and video demonstrations she is able to showcase how influencers “pose” in order to obtain the most flattering photos possible. Her growing popularity and committed followers seem to be a testament to how many women feel the pressure of social media body standards, and how they think they should look. In a recent study undergone by the YMCA it was found that “52% of 11 to 16 year olds worry about how they look” and “30% of 11 to 16 year olds isolate themselves from certain activities because of body image anxiety.”  

Real Life Samples 

In my classroom every semester we have a specific focus of social media throughout the course. At the end of every semester I have had at least one (if not a few) students quit their social media accounts. I’ve heard a dozen different reasons: “I spend too much time aimlessly scrolling,” “I bought a followers app because I wanted to know when someone unfollowed me so I can unfollow them and that’s when I knew it was getting unhealthy,” or “I hated the way I looked in comparison to others.” And I hear this last one the most. When giving students an option for what topics to pick in relationship to social media, most of them want to talk about body image and realistic expectations online. However, one of the most interesting topics came up when one of my students during discussion admitted, “I think we all know social media is bad to some extent, I just don’t think we can help it. I know I for one read things from people I know aren’t that reliable just because everyone else is following them too.” And it seems to be all too true, that even though heavily researched articles such as Jiyoung Chae’s “Explaining Females’ Envy Toward Social Media Influencers” and Dian A. de Vries’s “Social Comparison as the Thief of Joy: Emotional Consequences of Viewing Strangers’ Instagram Posts” are constantly pointing towards these influencers as unproductive and unhealthy models of realistic life, we just cannot seem to help ourselves. 

Undoing the Wrong, Solutions and a Call for Discussion 

So, as my student so brightly pointed out in class that day, if we all know social media is bad then why do we stay? Well, to tell the truth it’s not all terrible. From building social networks and support groups to having some bomb workout videos to follow along and try, there are a lot of positives to the everyday social sites we all enjoy. The key really isn’t cutting out social media (the social cleanse) as some of us like to call it, but learning how to use these sites to our benefit. Here are some tips for focusing your attention on meaningful and purposeful areas of social media. 

TIPS: 

• Turn off your notifications (Ahhh!) Don’t worry, I’m sure the next comment on your instagram can wait a couple hours before you respond. 
• Only follow influencers who support body positivity and REALISTIC expectations. This one seems difficult but is so huge. I personally did this a few months back and only seeing pictures of women who LOOK LIKE ME is such a breath of fresh air. 
• Post the first picture on your phone or leave off the filter. Hilarious and relatable, certified health coach Katrina runs her instagram @collegecleaneating which encourages women to love every part of themselves. Her most recent post talked about how often we agonize over what photo to choose and encouraged others to begin loving the “first one taken.” 
• Follow accounts for “tips” not for “expectations.” So many times we follow accounts—usually a fitness account—and think “oh I want to look JUST like her.” So we follow these people, copy their workout, and then become surprised when we aren’t twinning by the end of the month. It’s okay to follow accounts you aspire to. Perhaps someone can do a really cool yoga trick or has tips for getting a stronger upper body. The problem is not the advice or tips these people provide, it’s the expectations we put on ourselves to then look just like someone we’ve never met on our little screen. 
• Be honest with yourself and others. The more I teach my classes, the more I realize how every person feels in regards to social media and social expectations. Being able to have open discourse about the impact of social media on our mental health brings us one step closer to using social sites as a means of building community and awareness instead of allowing it to tear down self worth. 

COMMENT YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES OR THOUGHTS BELOW