How do you feel when you post your picture in either bikini or in underwear on social media?
- Empowered or disempowered?
- Liked or disliked?
- Embarrassed or appreciated?
- Compared and complimented, or compared and criticised?
- Followed or unfollowed?
- Popular or unpopular?
If you go through any of the above feelings or emotions, then this article is meant for you.
There are a series of preparations one undergoes before posting a picture on social media. Preparations like, finding the best picture, the best location, the best smile, the best posture, lights, area of body to focus etc., and mentioning whether it is a selfie, or acknowledge as taken by a photographer.
After posting a picture on social media, one would undergo a surge of emotions: the angst of waiting for likes and comments, which could be a result of overflowing “like and appreciation” from previous experiences or, if this is your very first post, then it could be a result of your peers’ complimenting your looks and your appearance which has boosted your confidence, in taking a step forward by posting a picture in a bikini or your underwear.
Your self-confidence & self-worth surges. Collecting these “likes” from the existing and newly acquired followers on social media, this fills oneself with a sense of achievement. But then, there is also the darker aspect of social media, filled with negative feedback, which are direct, unfiltered, and almost instant, sometimes from a follower or often from an unknown entity, giving your self-confidence and self-worth a massive blow. This puts you under tremendous pressure to focus on how you present yourself against the present competition.
The compliments are usually focused on how you are perceived by your peers and compared against other celebrities. This triggers the reward centre in your brain, which then automatically looks forward in replicating this experience. One starts, planning the next perfect opportunity for a perfect selfie, perfect pose in the most perfect ambiance. But often one forgets that the more a person makes a great deal out of this, their body-image concerns go higher. This experience is a never-ending trap, based on the previous experience of likes and appreciation, often triggering anxiety in a person.
The masses look at these pictures, not of a person with thoughts, emotions, and feelings, but as a physical being or an object. This is termed as “objectification” in Psychology. People often see the person as a sexual object to provide them pleasure, referring to the glimpse of tantalising flesh. People often forget that the person publishing these pictures, are intelligent, inspirational, friendly humans, often helpful and understanding, but this inner beauty is often overpowered by the physical display of skin.
So, how can we be different to the masses?
- Look beyond the picture, a healthy physique could inspire you to work on your own self.
- Know that the picture can also be about a leisure time spent at a beach, enjoying your own company
- Question your own mind and ask, are your only skills limited to making cheap comments and asking to show more.
The information and views expressed in the blog are individual and inspired from the writer’s experience and study in Mental Health & Hypnotherapy.
Picture courtesy: Indian Model and Fitness enthusiast – Benjamin Alexander.
All copyright reserved.
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