Last year, Netflix released the documentary, The Social Dilemma, which impacted how its audiences viewed and used devices. The Social Dilemma focuses on how big social media companies manipulate users through specific algorithms that encourage dependency on these programs. The documentary demonstrates how these platforms use personal data to target their audience with ads without much regulation. During quarantine, families across the country sat down together and watched as the film highlighted social media problems. It spotlighted how much we spend and depend on social media and our electronic devices daily. Still, I am here to tell you that not all uses of social media are terrible.
Initially created to be a sort of “instant telegram,” Instagram’s original prototype featured only the ability to post, comment and like pictures. From the start, the photography app grew from only a handful of users to over 100,000 in only one week and quickly rose to the prominent presence we see in our lives today. Currently, you experience a much different app than the one launched 10 years ago. Today, users have hundreds and thousands of followers rather than a handful of close friends. Instead of heavy filtration of pictures, you now see perfectly edited photos and moments. You only post what you want your employer and peers to see rather than the ugly realness of life. However, in modern society, recent generations have invented a way to privatize public social media profiles.
Enter, The Finsta and Private Stories! A finsta is a shortened term for “fake instagram.” A private story is a story that only select people can see. Teens and young adults often use these two platforms to document the more real and candid moments to share with close friends.
Finstas and private stories allow people to express themselves without worrying about their school or employer seeing potentially inappropriate behavior or words. They give users a place to talk about feelings and life with an immediate interaction and validation from specific, close friends through funny candids, memes and rants without having to schedule out a time to call or text a bunch of people.
Finstas and private stories are an excellent way to connect with a close circle of friends rather than worrying about what you are posting on your main social media account with more followers and friends. These forms of social media are relaxed and intimate, which leads to greater enjoyment in an environment that often leads to comparison and dependency on scrolling through your feeds.
In this day and age of never-ending social media pages, give yourself a break and make a smaller circle of friends to post to, not for. These platforms take the pressure of validation and praise off your shoulders. Posting to your finsta or private story is like telling a story to your old friend. Take the pressure off and create one of these no-stress platforms for yourself and for a better social media experience.
