Perfectly Flawed – Heart Hackers Club

With the proliferation of social media sites and the millions of flawless Instagram selfies in circulation, the lives of others have never been so disruptively put on display for the world to view. It’s the age of socially acceptable voyeurism, and it’s changing the way you connect and view others.

As our feeds are constantly updated by our ‘friends’ highlights of vacations, designer outfits and perfectly angled self-portraits, you can’t help but compare, contrast and even feel a serious case of FOMO (fear of missing out). Not only do we miss out on that party we were never invited to, or the grand romantic gestures we never received, we also feel like we’re missing out if we don’t seem as flawless, fun, and popular as everyone else. . Tiring much?

Research has shown that people often feel jealous, lonely and generally worse about themselves after looking at their friends’ party photos. Moreover, the latest study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, suggests that teens are more likely to engage in risky activities, such as smoking and drinking, when they see their friends doing so in photos.

Our addiction to social voyeurism affects us whether we are aware of it or not. Keeping track of the Jones’s has been replaced by our modern version of Keeping up with the Kardashians. There is a pressure to maintain flawless images of our perfect selves and exciting lives. And when a majority of society participates in the charade, it affects our perception of reality, blurring the lines between authenticity and persona. It’s the selectively curated 20% of our lives that give the impression that we’re starring at the bar, wearing couture, befriending models, going on foodie adventures… always. (#guilty)

The problem is that the more we strive for filtered perfection, the more we lose connection with ourselves our unfiltered humanity. And consequently, we feel “less than” because we don’t live up to the lives digitally represented by our friends. It’s easy to forget that the brand portrayed by others leaves out the boring details of everyday life, the feelings of loneliness, the tears, the pimples, the morning breath – the mundane details that make up 80% of our lives. The everyday things that make all of us perfectly flawed human beings.

This article is not to suggest that you now upload a bunch of photos of yourself with food between your teeth. In fact, curating your image choices and words can be quite a creative way of self-expression. Instead, be mindful of what you post and, most importantly, how you consume what you see. Remember, people are watching, and while they’re at it, they’re also judging and imitating. Remember, the most beautiful part of you is your humanity—and that essence isn’t necessarily the best photoshopped, X-Pro filtered, and hashtagged “me.”

Photo by: Panda