Let's make online spaces a little less performative

Let's rewind a sec… remember the '90s? No smartphones, no endless feeds, just good ol'fashioned living in the moment. Remember actually experiencing life instead of trying to capture every damn second for the 'gram? I honestly miss those days..

Fast forward to now, and social media's gone from "connecting" to "performing." Everyone's a highlight reel, curated to perfection with filters and angles. It's like we've forgotten how to just be!

If you zoom-out “this very piece of time” in the evolution of human race, and read “between the lines”, you will realize the impact of neuroscientist working hard to shape the very way we think and decide every single moment of life.

I remember the first time Facebook was launched with the core motive to “connect people”, In-fact I started using Orkut so that I can connect to my friends. that’s it. Take a moment to reflect and think “how the very way we use social media has changed”..

Remember being a teenager without the pressure of "going viral"? No FOMO, no endless likes to chase, just real friendships and awkward dances at school events, no judgements, no pressure of who is getting more views and likes.. Now, kids are navigating that minefield with smartphones glued to their palms, wondering if their lives are "Instagrammable" enough.

And you know what? It's exhausting. For them, for us, for everyone. This constant chase for the perfect post, the viral hit, the dopamine rush of a like… it's stealing our joy, our authenticity, our lives!

I'm a marketer, so I get it. Content is king, engagement is queen, but at what cost? Are we so obsessed with metrics that we've forgotten the magic of genuine expression?

Look, I'm not saying ditch social media entirely (though, wouldn't a tech detox be slightly freeing?). But maybe we can shift the focus a bit. Maybe we can post less, feel more. Maybe we can ditch the filters and let our real selves shine through, messy hair and all.

You can also choose which one is relative better or worse, right? Thankfully, I am active in the similar order (I don’t use Snapchat and rare of FB). Maybe it’s a strong statement to make but Instagram is sh*t for your mental health, period.

Let's have conversations that spark instead of stories that sell. Let's share vulnerability instead of perfection. Let's connect on a human level, not just a hashtag.

The internet can be a beautiful thing, a space for creativity and connection. But let's not let it become a cage of curated personas and desperate pleas for validation. Let's reclaim our real lives, our real voices, and let our scroll-less souls shine through.

I am not going to use my personal Instagram for more than 15 minutes a day.. that’s roughly one peaceful night of sleep in a month.. but it’s a good start to ensure someday I can feel more connected to my people and myself :)

Let's make online spaces a little less performative, a little more soulful, and a whole lot more real.