Nowadays, the lines separating the online and offline realms are becoming more and more hazy in a time when technology affects every aspect of our life. The emergence of social media apps like Instagram completely changed the way we interact and communicate. It also sparked the debate over the veracity of our online identities.
Amidst this context, BeReal, an app that dared to defy the accepted conventions of the digital world, has emerged as a new player. Let’s take a closer look at the effects of continuously being online and the realms of Instagram and BeReal. Besides these, it throws light on the quest for authenticity in a time when picture-editing apps and filters rule the roost.
The Constant Connection
The constant presence of smartphones and the easy access to the internet have linked us to an infinitely immersive virtual world. Being online has ingrained itself into our everyday lives, from checking our feeds right before bed to waking up to the soft buzz of alerts. On the other hand, this ongoing relationship has a wide range of effects, both good and bad.
The digital age allows us worldwide connectedness, immediate communication, and an abundance of knowledge at our fingertips. However, the so-called “Instagram illusion” was created by the constant exposure to well-chosen material. Other reasons are the skillfully composed photos and the pressure to project an idealized self.
The Instagram Illusion: A Mirage of Perfection
Instagram often associated with visual narrative, has developed into a haven for the perfectionism culture. The constant search for the ideal shot, enhanced by editing app and in-built filters, has led to a well curated feed that frequently doesn’t reflect reality. Because of the abundance of perfect bodies, perfect features, and seemingly perfect lives, there is a culture where beauty prevails over honesty.
Beyond the virtual world, the effects of this carefully manicured beauty permeate our sense of self-worth and shape social norms. Long-term exposure to idealized pictures has been shown to have detrimental consequences on mental health. This includes anxiety, low self-esteem, and body dissatisfaction.
BeReal: Embracing Imperfections in a Digital World
In an ocean of flawlessly staged photos, BeReal stands out as a welcomed diversion. This ground-breaking software upends the current quo by prioritizing honesty. BeReal invites users to share honest, unedited events from their life. In contrast to the polished and airbrushed photographs that predominate on other platforms. The guiding principles of the app are to embrace the beauty of honesty, celebrate flaws, and encourage real interactions.
BeReal purposefully doesn’t use the conventional editing tools that are now associated with social networking sites from its user interface. This deliberate restriction is a step towards releasing people from the constraints of perfection. It also creates an atmosphere that encourages them to be themselves.
Navigating the Digital Landscape: A Tale of Two Platforms
The way BeReal and Instagram are compared serves as a powerful reminder of the decisions we have to make while interacting with the digital world. BeReal offers a safe haven for people looking for honesty and real connections. Instagram, on the other side, promotes a culture of perfection by pressuring users to adhere to social norms.
Imperfections are not only accepted but also embraced in the BeReal world. By sharing uncensored photos of their life, users build a mosaic of authentic encounters that captures the unadulterated essence of reality. This deviation from Instagram’s refined façade points to a change in the way we think as a society. In addition, it challenges our assumptions about how the digital world affects how we see ourselves and other people.
Redefining Digital Authenticity
Platforms like BeReal stand out as catalysts for change as we struggle with the effects of our constant online presence. Moreover, pushes us to reevaluate our priorities in the digital era. The Instagram illusion could persist in maintaining an unachievable benchmark of excellence. On the other hand, the emergence of BeReal indicates an increasing desire for genuineness.
BeReal encourages us to accept flaws in a world overrun with editing-softwares and filters, creating a virtual environment that mimics the complexity of real life. In the end, we have to make a decision that will shape the story of our online presence and, consequently, our real lives. In particular, this is either we maintain the Instagram illusion, or we embrace the authenticity of apps like BeReal.
Reference List
- Anti-Instagram ist nicht besser als Instagram
- BeReal: Ist das Anti-Instagram besser als das Original?
- BeReal: The Instagram Alternative That’s Keeping it Real?
- Das Anti-Instagram: Wir haben uns Bereal mal genauer angeschaut
- Instagram Copies ‘Anti-Instagram’ App BeReal in Latest Experiment
- Instagram vs. BeReal
