Holidays have become a conquest for having the most likes on Instagram. It starts with stopping everything we’re doing, pulling out our phones, and taking a dozen pictures from every possible angle. We then spend another ten minutes looking at a caption. Should I choose lyrics from Beyonce’s new album or should I stick with emojis? Now is the time for a filter and God knows how long it will take.
An hour later, we put our phones down only to pick them up again to check how many likes our last post got. By then, that beautiful sunset that we should have been watching is gone and the thunder clouds are rolling in.
We had the perfect moment but we didn’t savor it because we felt the need to show it to others.
Most users of social networks have a slight obsession with sharing everything; our brunch team, the surprise dinners that our partners prepare for us, the view from our hotel rooms. We have all been this person at some point in our lives or have sat in front of one. And it’s frustrating as hell. Aren’t we here to talk and catch up? So why do we ignore each other and lean over our phones?
Do our followers really care where we are and the hashtags that go with it? Ask yourself this: do these things matter to you when you see them in your feed? Sure, some images are great, but they don’t make you look at them on a deeper level; after all, isn’t that the purpose of the hover function?
We don’t need Instagram to validate our happiness; higher number of likes does not equate to higher levels of happiness. Sure, some people look ecstatic in their photos and their vacations look like something out of glossy magazines, but are they as happy as they seem? Or did they just have a big argument with their family? Was the food that good or was it super bland? These are things that images do not convey to us.
Worst of all, our Instagram feed has become a battleground, a field of great competition. We are intimidated by other people’s images and feel the need to ‘up our game’. A sudden sense of insecurity begins to develop when we feel compelled to validate our happiness with others.
What we could do instead is get comfortable in ourselves and develop the mindset that I know I’m happy and I don’t need anyone else to tell me I am. We need to enjoy the moments that life offers us because the best ones come without consideration and are amplified with a carefree attitude. Why spend time checking Instagram every ten minutes when you could be having another margarita on the beach?
Now don’t get me wrong; I love taking photos and my summer destinations are no exception. They act as reminders of the good times I’ve had, especially on days when I’m stuck at the office. And yes, I am also guilty of uploading a photo or two while basking under tropical suns. But I’m looking to change this last part.
Of course, this will not be an easy task, but I am going to take small steps to achieve it. Maybe I’ll start by waiting until the end of the day when I’m settled in my comfortable hotel bed to upload something. One thing is for sure though: I refuse to waste precious moments worrying about how my Instagram followers see me.
We don’t need to tell people how happy we are nor do we need to feed their curiosities. We don’t need to live up to your expectations of us, because if anything, we should be enjoying our vacation ourselves.
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