For most of us, what we post on social media is daily inspiration, thoughts and maybe an artsy photo, but in the end it’s an extension of the human experience.
In this day in age, many moan and groan about the oversharing aspect of social media.
In reality, being able to see real time updates from relatives, friends, and companies via Instagram and other platforms is something thoroughly enjoyed by most, which is shown by various reports regarding rates of engagement.
As of Sept. 2015 Hootsuite, a platform that allows you to control your social media accounts from one website, revealed, “Instagram users have shared over 30 billion photos to date, and now share an average of 70 million photos per day.”
People love sharing about themselves and people genuinely like seeing routine postings from the people they follow. That’s why Kylie Jenner has 50 million Instagram followers.
YouTubers, who share almost every aspect of their daily lives online, argued that showing the good, bad and the ugly serves as a way to relate to others. It even helps some by sharing experiences, whether that are battling depression or anxiety, or simply offering advice to those who need it.
Bloggers, who essentially share their lives via social media, have built a financial empire on sharing photos, videos, and stories.
With instant photo journals and many apps telling us what we did exactly on that day four years ago, it’s a documentation of the present and past. Seeing the awkward selfies posted in sixth grade and a group photo of friends aren’t really going to be the topic of discussion at a job interview, but they’re great when reminiscing with friends.
Post whatever, but know there’s a platform for every post. Nights out, memes, and pictures of your dog (I mean unless you’re a dog walker), shouldn’t be present on your LinkedIn profile but perhaps on Facebook, Snapchat, or Instagram. Just don’t friend request your boss or co-workers.
Having the technology to share stories and ask for advice about work and relationships to a plethora of friends and family is something to be embraced and not shamed. More often than not questions are answered by a peer, friend or that weird distant family member with helpful advice.
If we’re so worried about creating this ‘fake self’ or seeming too perfect on social media then why are we simultaneously worried about creating an unflawed, barbie version of ourselves to employers?
Being the perfect professional every hour of our lives isn’t reality, and doesn’t let our authentic self flourish. With ample amounts of post censoring from ourselves, raw, honest posts and funny stories about trips to the grocery store at 1 a.m. are stripped away.
Just like anything in life, you should probably think about what implications something will have, however don’t stress too much about being an overly avid poster or what you post about. Many will relate, or appreciate the share.
Speaking of, I have yet to watch the shirtless Justin Bieber music video. Does it bother me that he shared it? Do I like him any less? Absolutely not.
