Instagram is Changing Millennials' Lifestyle! Ways How Social Media App is Controlling Your Behaviour

When photo-sharing application Instagram was introduced in the year 2012 no one would have thought it would be controlling the users one day. Not directly, but the kind of compulsion that is being witnessed in the generation has become obvious. The millennials, as most of them move away from Facebook, scroll their Instagram feed more often these days. The newly added features only prompt more and more people to use them to an extent that there is a definite overuse. The introduction of the 'story' feature alone is influencing a lot of behavioural changes in the users.

The application largely meant for showcasing photography has now turned into 'showing off' what you do. The more integrated features within the 'story' have made more people to show what they got (even if not). The way you dress up, the food you eat, your way to work, what you do post-work all of this gets the need to be documented. To make it more clear, let us elaborate on these lifestyle changes.

Ways in Which Instagram is Making Lifestyle Changes:

#SelfLove:

No one would have remotely thought of clicking pictures as the first thing they do after they wake up in morning. But now #MorningSelfie is a trend, or is that too old already? These morning selfies too have the proper light to illuminate the 'morning glow,' the hair is not messed up, your eyes are not struggling and you have a pose.

The clothes you wear go under #OOTD. There is nothing novel about watching any vehicle moving front and back in boomerangs. A flatlay picture of your laptop, notepad and pen doesn't get your work done better. Rare are those who do not put pictures without using filters.

The overall appearance of not yourself but your entire routine is changing as you put it up on Instagram.

#FoodPorn:

Head to a restaurant, order something fancy or rather Instagram-worthy, click it till it becomes cold and review it for an awesome taste. Years ago there was no compulsive need to click food pictures before you eat. You eagerly waited for the food to get to your table and relish it. Now a perfect angle is thought of from before. The ordering pattern has changed and not realising your lifestyle too. Now even home-cooked food gets layered with filters. The new phrase is 'Have your cake, show it to the world before you eat it too!'

#Wanderlust:

When commute to college/workplace also gets documented through 'stories,' travel check-ins are a pre-requisite. From packing the bags, putting on your travel shoes to finally heading out, your trip begins much before. Plane tickets, window-seat views, clouds each of these are elements that have taken control over you.

A person who is travelling is almost giving you a tour of the place they visit. It is good in a way for influencers but the 'influence' is not necessarily good.

I sometimes wonder if people took their #MuchNeededBreak for themselves or to show it off to the world that they are on a trip and having the best of their time.

#YayOrNayy:

To know where you stand and if you have approval on social media has become the new 'affirmation' of any idea. The polls, showing their results, the meter is all used and documented. Seeking public approval has, unfortunately, become 'your choice.' People want to know fit in with the popular ideas. Would you some months ago, put up a picture to create a poll about it? The songs you are listening to currently are also on the stories.

#FOMO:

If you still don't know the full-form of FOMO, then you are safe. But the 'Fear of Missing Out' is too real and it is creeping in your veins. It is compulsive to show off what you are doing otherwise are you even existing? This anxiety of what am I doing as compared to what someone else is doing has entered not realising.

To conclude, these points cannot be called 'mistakes,' but these are changes that have been affecting our lifestyle unknowingly. And it is a sad reality that we are a prey to it and continue to be infested upon. I think it is time we step back and relax a bit. There will be no 'fear of missing out,' if we understand there is not much that we are missing out on. We do not need to live an Instagram-worthy life, but a life that has to be lived, irrespective of using Instagram. #TrueStory

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 26, 2018 04:50 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).