Instagram has multiple reputations for creating unrealistic lifestyle aspirations and fake lives. I am an active instagram user who can easily say I am on this application everyday and post at least once a week. Despite all the negativity that revolves instagram, I view this app in a very positive way.
I see instagram in three ways:
A Personal Scrapbook
Instagram has acted personally as a memoir of highlights of my life. I have had instagram since the beginning of high school, so can easily scroll and see what I was doing years ago on this same day. Most of my posts are real moments from my life that keep memories for years to come. I once had a friend ask me to reflect on my year with her, and I could go on instagram and find a highlight in my life from each month! On top of this, I find fun and relaxation in editing photos as well as enjoy capturing them as well.
When I first got instagram, the content was mostly either grainy iPhone shots of coffee or unique locations, as well as a place to post photography. I enjoyed having little photo sessions when I spent time with my friends so it started as a place to share these outtakes. As it quickly grew into a more social platform I created a separate account (the one I use now @mssmadison) to post more personal captures from my everyday life.
Fast forward to today and this is the only account I currently use and love to explore my own page and see all the beautiful things I have experienced and created!
Networking
The networking or social part of instagram comes in two forms to me. One being meeting new people or brands and the other being in touch with people I am unable to see as much anymore.
The first component I only have touched with a small amount as I currently work with only two brands online (NAAK nutrition and Fitzeri clothing), however see as a unique opportunity for co-promotion or for some people even a “side-hustle”. As someone with low-key modelling aspirations instagram has put me in touch with other models and photographers that could someday network into true opportunities (aka if our locations correlate).
Secondly, as someone who has moved far away from my home town and travels semi-frequently there is a lot of people especially including my close friends and family that instagram easily keeps me in touch with. I personally love to see what everyone is up to and being able to reply instantly makes me feel much less distant.
Inspiration
I find instagram SUPER inspiring. I follow a lot of fitness accounts/ athletes (mostly triathletes, runners and obstacle racers) who share a lot of their workouts and day to day life. As an active person myself I get new ideas for workouts, connect with people and even give each other advice time to time. I even feel more motivated by seeing others pushing themselves. Sometimes if I wake up in the morning and really do not feel like doing my work out that day (swim days always LOL), I will scroll through instagram and see something someone else has accomplished and feel the motivation flowing back into me.
I can not relate when people say they feel discouraged seeing how great other people's lives are on instagram. Most of the time that is literally what I am going on there to see! Seeing travel accounts, fitness and models in fabulous photo’s gets me excited or inspired for whatever my next plans in life may be (even if it's just going to work that day!).
Finally, if you are feeling negative on instagram, double check who you follow. Just like in real life whatever you surround yourself with is what you will become. If you scroll by an accounts post more than once and it gave you any sort of negative feeling (even if you know the person), UNFOLLOW. I know I am going to be on instagram every day and feel no shame in unfollowing someone who does not make me feel good.
I truly believe that this app has the potential for positivity, memory making and even opportunities for anyone who wants to use it.
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