A Warning About “No Filter” Instagram Posts

I was going to sneak this into a short Instagram caption but then decided it ALL needs to live here.  It’s been weighing on me.  And, in light of trying to stay off social media, this seemed like the right place to share.

There’s a movement on Instagram.  You’ve seen it, especially if you’re following girls.  The movement contains words like “authentic”, “being real”, “makeup free”, & “no filter”.  Mmmm, this wonderful idea someone had to start sharing real photos, & it took off like wildfire.

Then you know what happened?  And I didn’t notice this at first… I started comparing myself to the “REAL” photos & stories.  How do these people still look so good?  How is that their bad day?  Putting in perspective how horrible I actually look on my real days & how awful my bad days truly are.  Ugh.

BUT!  I persevered & supported the {more} real photos & the idea behind it –  Yeah! Let’s be authentic!  (then trying to make my authentic instagram photos look as good as theirs…?)

This realization really came to fruition during SXSW when I went to the Modern Self event.  They were giving free treatments, ranging from facials to botox to invisalign.  And unlimited information about plastic surgery, breast augmentation & liposuction.   I have nothing against treatments, I would actually love a few of them, but…  You need approx $2,000+/week to maintain your new authentic look.   All of a sudden I realized a lot of “no filter” photos, have a lot of expensive, off camera assistance.

I was a little pissed off.

This entire time I’m comparing myself to the fortunate people who spend this much money on their face?  Even worse, other people are comparing themselves to them too?  A no-filter picture immediately turned into a big banner saying:  “look how much money I spend on my face that you don’t have!”

Let’s take money out of the mix because that’s not fair for everyone.  There’s so much else that can help a photo beside filters, makeup, & expensive procedures… For example, lighting?  Camera quality?  Photographer?  Angle?  Environment?  A makeup-free, filter-free, random selfie could be taken with a huge ring light in a fancy car with a nice camera.

We’ve always been reminded Instagram is a person’s highlight reel… until one day, the devil’s assistant himself landed on Earth to combat the little slack we were giving ourselves.  He said, let’s start having the population post authentic photos, being sure to label them #NOFILTER and #MAKEUPFREE.  That way people will have no choice but compare themselves to what they see.  This isn’t a highlight reel, this is REAL!

In a time of botox, technology, & {probably} a Youtuber telling us exactly what lighting to catch for the perfect picture – we’re living in a filtered world.  I decided to pull away from Instagram a little (easier said than done), specifically the “mindless” scrolling.  Because I don’t think I’m actually mindlessly scrolling.  Images, ideas, thoughts, & comparisons get stuck in our subconscious minds.  We might not even notice right now, it could easily be a slow build.

But, I don’t think all social media is bad.  I don’t even think all the “authentic” photos are bad.  For example, I’m not expecting a certain degree of “ew” in order to qualify as authentic enough.  But I don’t know if it’s necessary for a big announcement you’re makeup free or using no filter… or your hair looks crazy today or your house is a little messy…? Because what is this world where we have to declare that?  You know what I mean?

The other takeaway?  Use filters!  Wear makeup!  Let your Instagram be a highlight reel!  Do whatever the fuck you wanna do… Just don’t compare yourself or your life to anything you see.  Because at the end of the day, as “authentic” as a lot of people are claiming to be, we have no idea their reality.  We only know who we are, who we’re with, and how we’re feeling in the present – & that’s it.

I wanted to pull back the curtain & counteract the devil’s assistant that recently visited earth.  Whatever you’re seeing, isn’t 100% no filter or real.  SO many things make a difference in a photo or video.  The lighting, the environment, the $300 facial I got yesterday… FILTERED.

What are your thoughts? I know social media is a big topic…

Love you, mean it.  OH!  AND!  Did you know you’re very very very very beautiful?  Like SUPER beautiful.  You know how I know?  Because everyone is.

Be thoughtful,

Xx