I’m craving more authenticity on Instagram

Less vitamin gummies and flat tummy teas and more killer stories

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Is anyone else just sick and tired of all the BS and fake behavior on Instagram? From picture-perfect vacation photos to the most killer bikini bodies to hashtag tags for likes, where is the boundary between real and fake? Between staged and candid? I’m craving more authenticity on Instagram.

Even as a self-professed influencer, I don’t get it. I really don’t. What is real? What is fake? Where’s the line? Where are the real stories these days? Where’s the authentic content? Isn’t that what we all want deep down? Real, bona fide, gritty, raw stories?

Or do I want to be skinnier, wealthier, smile-er, more perfect?

As I struggle to reconcile my role in this wild and crazy internet world, where authenticity has become a commodity, I can’t help but wonder how authentic can anything be anymore? Oh god, self-identity crisis INCOMING! Am I fake too?

I'm craving more authenticity on Instagram

How is it mentally right for anyone to see and consume this kind of stuff online OR try and emulate it? No wonder everyone is full of bitterness, stress, and anxiety; me included these days. We constantly bombarded with images and videos of completely unrealistic lives. How can we not compare ourselves to what we are told is the standard online?

I don’t know about you guys, but I begin to notice that the more time I spend exploring on Instagram, the worse it can be for me, especially if I’m not mentally stable, which is to say, a lot of the damn time. I’ve been going through some stuff over the past year, and I’m still pulling myself out of a burnout.

“UGH Liz why aren’t your legs longer and why don’t you have a thigh gap and why didn’t you get a better shot at this place? Why didn’t you think of that first? How did she get that job and I didn’t?”

The list goes on and on and on.

Oh, that’s right, you are short and love burgers and are anxious as all hell.

I'm craving more authenticity on Instagram

If my mental guard isn’t Teflon strong without any cracks, I quickly submit into the mire too. After all, isn’t it much easier to dwell on where you seemingly fail than to sit in your success and own happiness with who you are? Why can’t we just be happy with where we are? Me included?

Remember, comparison is the thief of joy. This is a part of my daily mantra and one of my affirmations I tell myself in the mirror every morning. Yes, I actually do this.

For instance, every morning, I get up and look at myself in the mirror and say (among many things), “you are enough.”

Stop comparing yourself to people on the internet; we’re all stars and doing our best. The hustle to keep up a perfect facade has been killing me for a long time now. I’m craving more authenticity on Instagram and social media; how about you?

Let’s all work together to sharing more of our real selves, not to be afraid, to be honest, and right, and to stop performing and instead be genuine. I’m speaking to myself as much as anyone, as it’s so easy for me to slip into “blogger Liz” and hide behind a shiny face.

I'm craving more authenticity on Instagram

The more and more I dwell on this, the more I think that I really hope my stories and posts have been inspirational, and if anything I’ve ever posted made someone feel like they weren’t good enough or perfect enough, I’m not only heartbroken but so sorry. In conclusion, we’re all wildly imperfect together in this messy world.

So next time you’re scrolling through social media and feel those dark thoughts start creeping in, please remember you aren’t alone; we’re all in this together. And the only thing those diet teas do is provide explosive diarrhea.

And I don’t know about you guys, but I’m dying to see more heart on blogs. I’m CRAVING some damn good stories and authentic pages to follow. I’m craving more authenticity on Instagram! What can I do better? How can I get more real? How do I find my voice again? Inspire me!

Do you guys have any recommendations for creative people who fit the ticket? Who are you enjoying following on Instagram right now? Please leave me a comment and let me know and I’ll share them. 

Come join me at the Travel Bootcamp and learn how to get paid to travel too

I'm craving more authenticity on Instagram

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26 Comments on “I’m craving more authenticity on Instagram

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  1. I have mixed feelings with instagram. Even if I love photography so much, lately I have found that after a while of scrolling and seeing so many perfect lives, I feel so bad and empty. Looks like everyone has no problems and it really hurts when you have a bad day. On the other hand I think that anyone can feel the same when visiting my profile because obviously I won’t post when I feel down and that makes me feel bad too…
    So I’m considering that maybe I should stop checking instagram, at least for a while. I don’t feel inspired anymore but a little bit sad after instagram time.
    Instagram has definitely lost its authenticity.

  2. You’re definitely not alone in feeling this way. Instagram has become super over the top with the staging, posing and editing of travel photos (removing other tourists, adding fake sunsets, making mountains or moons bigger, etc.) without sharing any genuine information or stories about the destination.

    Sometimes it feels like people just use the world as a backdrop for their photoshoots, and the culture/history/nature comes second…or not at all. My personal solution has been to stop looking at Instagram so much, and when I do open the app I only spend a minute or two scrolling through.

    I just don’t think Instagram is the right platform for me anymore, as a content creator or user.

  3. I’ve had blogger burnout and totally agree that so many of these influencers post perfect pictures and make their lives look perfect when they really aren’t. I’ve almost wanted to stop posting and just write my blog how ever I want. Over the years and most recently I’ve noticed and felt the lack of authenticity the most.

  4. I’ve always been 100% authentic on Instagram. And it’s hurting me badly in terms of engagement. But I won’t stop being authentic and telling stories that I hope matter to people (and that I know matter to me) even though it hurts my engagement for the very reasons you describe. I don’t want to contribute to people like you and I who feel Instagram has been ruined by all the posturing and caring about the algorithm. AUTHENTICITY FOREVER! 😉 🙂

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