Why You Should Hide Your Instagram Likes RN
Start posting your selfies in peace.
by MADISON MANCZKO ★ OCTOBER 11, 2021
The time has finally come to delete Facetune and edit your attitude. It’s no surprise that social media can be a scary place–I can’t even go on my explore page anymore without seeing models with 0% body fat, or girls with the smallest button-noses that have me Googling the cost of a rhinoplasty (it’s not cheap, btw).
Social media sites have never been on our side; that was made clear earlier this week by Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee turned whistleblower. According to AP News, Haugen shared with 60 Minutes that Facebook prioritizes profit over stopping the spread of hate and misinformation. A similar study concluded that Facebook content has a negative effect on the mental health of teen girls.
Credit: Pinterest
The solution is simple: delete everything. Instagram, Twitter, and yes, even TikTok (*gasp*). While this would properly cleanse our phone storage and our souls, the truth is, it’s really not that simple. Social media can actually be a pretty fun place to keep up with family and friends back home, share our creativity, and, of course, feel ourselves. So, maybe instead of going all out on a complete purge, we can take baby steps in an effort to make Instagram a less toxic place.
Turn Off Your Likes
I bet you’ve deleted a picture or two that “didn’t get enough likes,” even though you definitely looked sexy AF. By turning off likes, we gain more control over how Instagram affects our self-esteem. Posting becomes a form of self-expression rather than a competition, allowing us to feel more free and confident. Whether it’s Instagram likes or Snapchat story viewers, numbers should never define us.
Credit: Pinterest
Make “Do Not Disturb” Your Best Friend
I personally thrive off this button–it’s the major reason why I never answer my friends’ calls. Silencing your notifications allows you to pick up your phone on your own terms. If you’re like me and it takes you a crazy amount of mental energy to respond to people, this is definitely the right move. Let’s face it, you have better things to do than wait for that frat guy to snap you back.
Unfollow Instagram Models
Trust me, my feed used to be filled with them. I thought I was following them for outfit inspo, but the only thing they inspired me to do was hate my body. If you really need the inspo, though, there are plenty of influencers that promote things like body and skin positivity, transparency, and compassion. It’s 2021—it’s time to stop comparing ourselves to unattainable beauty standards. We can all collectively agree that Emily Ratajkowski is physically flawless, but we don’t need to see her washboard abs on a Monday night at 2 A.M., especially when we’re already in our feels.
Credit: Vogue
#MakeInstagramCasual
We don’t need to treat Instagram like our modeling portfolios, and we don’t need to put pressure on ourselves to post the “perfect” photo every time we go out. Start posting anything and everything. Your dog, the really good pasta you had for dinner, or that aesthetically pleasing café you go to before class. If we start getting comfortable with sharing the little moments, that post button will look a lot less intimidating.
Credit: Pinterest
We all know social media has its fair share of toxicity, but we don’t have to go off-the-grid to take care of our mental health. At the end of the day, we have power over what content we see and what we post, so why not start using that power to our benefit? You’re hot babe; now go post that pic you’ve been agonizing over.
Cover Photo Credit: Pinterest