Insta: the fast/slow track to fame

We did a bunch on Instagram this week- a social media everyone says I should get.

 It's cool, and I have even viewed some Insta pages without having an account just to see a big cache of photos on something I'm interested in.

Even so, I never liked the content I would see from people in my actual world, around high school and early in college. Seems like its all selfies, food posts, and outdoor hashtags, amirite?

To me, Instagram is one of the best examples of the perpetual cultivation of a personalized online "image" (pun intended) which is conveyed to individuals in one's range of interaction in the hopes of redeeming whatever gains rendered from internet content irl.

Or, hopefully, just a cool platform for showing people you know pictures you like and finding pictures you like from others- even if you don't know them.

The latter perspective of Insta is obviously preferred, but I think the former, more cynical bit is a safer bet.

Friends of mine have always been huge Instagram users- so I have received limited exposure to the service.

I've been shown a lot of makeup videos, after Insta started allowing video posts, of course. Specifically, extremely precise brow shaping/lining videos- which are hugely satisfying to watch.

Makeup and fashion, I've noticed, are huuuge on Instagram.

Some of my friends are really into streetwear, and they love Instagram for showing off their newest pieces and seeing what really rich people are able to buy streetwear wise.

I think it's especially interesting how there are people who are just "Instagram Famous." What a time to be alive- it could be you, it could be my mom, it could be anyone! So easy.

Like these people, for example.

Celebrity is seemingly so attainable.

Yet, simultaneously, the ever-increasing competition for views on the internet- even among our own Insta followers- is ever increasing.

When Instagram first started, I remember this being a particularly new kind of celebrity and there being a lot of surprise at the ease in exchange of hate online.

I think it's arguable that Instagram is the worst social media in terms of redemption of physical attractiveness.

Many Instagram stars at its conception were pretty, young women who posted a lot of pictures of themselves. Maybe people stuck around for the captions, but it's difficult to assess what was genuine success and what was due to mere face value.

With that difficulty- do we see issue in this as a society? Is Instagram something kids should be raised to use with a focus on absence of vanity and self confidence not reliant on the opinion of others?

With all the complex effects of widespread social media use, maybe kids it the future will have to take "defensive social media use" or "internet self-safety" classes.

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