Be Yourselfie

(Engage in social media literacy)

Opening Up Thoughtfully

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On one hand, being authentic–vulnerably allowing people to see more of the “real” us–involves a bit of risk. On the other hand, authenticity promotes real connection, and it’s normal if you seek connection. (You’re human!) But you need to consider the risks as well as the benefits and seek a balance that feels right to you. When you have little control over who sees your posts, responses can range from awesome and supportive to “ troll ” and mean.

If you feel moved to share personal stuff on social media (your struggles, mental health, etc.), as you share, keep checking in with your feelings, paying attention to body sensations, and noticing your thoughts. They’ll guide you. And, for those with less social capital due to marginalized identities, finding that risk-to-potential-reward balance can be especially difficult. So please don’t judge yourself (or others). We’re all trying to figure it out. And truly, there is no “right” way to share your authentic self, ask for support, or build your own community on social media. There is only your authentic self and your authentic ways.

Page4-Tab1 Authenticity on Social Media

It’s important to remember that everyone has bad days, even when it seems like their life is great online. What are different ways I could ask for support when I’m having a hard day?

What’s something that might stop me from reaching out?

Can I recall someone else’s share that made me want to support them (comment, post a kind emoji, etc.), and if so, what was it and why did I want to connect?

If a friend posted or shared about a bad day but didn’t get the response they had hoped for, how might I comfort them?

Recognizing that self-compassion is basically treating myself as I would a dear friend, if I posted or shared about a bad day but didn’t get the response I had hoped for, how might I comfort myself?

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Posting Real Images

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Research is pretty clear on the following:

Body dissatisfaction has been one of the strongest predictors of disordered eating.
Body dissatisfaction can contribute to depression, self-esteem issues, eating disorders, and other mental health problems.
Posting a photo of yourself has been shown to increase body dissatisfaction, and studies show that editing seems to make it even worse!

Yes, editing and posting selfies can help tank your body image. It’s just one more reason that being authentic online and IRL can be a positive choice.

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When was the last time I posted a photo of myself without using a filter or editing it?

Why did I use a filter or edit the picture? How might I have felt if I posted the same picture without changing it?

What makes it difficult for me to be fully authentic online in photos and posts? (These might be things like fear of others’ comments, wanting to avoid stereotypes about my race/sexuality, etc.)

Do I ever think about how much time people I follow online spend on editing and otherwise manipulating their posts?

What's one way I can be more authentic in my social media posts?

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Getting Wise about Media Manipulations

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Many of us are hoping that one day, we’ll post something that goes viral. But have you ever considered what makes social media content get shared endlessly? A lot of it has to do with how the content impacts us emotionally.

Research shows that “joy moves faster than sadness or disgust, but nothing is speedier than rage.”
The feeling that got things moving even faster than anger? It’s awe: “the feelings of wonder and excitement that come from encountering great beauty or knowledge.” When we’re in awe of something, we want to share it with others so they can experience the same excitement.
But just because it inspired an emotion in us, we don’t actually know why someone chose to share it, especially if they are being paid to share it. In 2021, the number of brand-sponsored influencer posts on Instagram surpassed three million, creating a fifteen-billion-dollar business market.

Page4-Tab3 Encouraging Acceptance

What social media post of mine has gotten the most engagement through likes, comments, and/or shares?

What emotions did this post evoke in the others that liked, commented, or shared?

Of the emotions named above (joy, sadness, disgust, rage, awe), which would I like for my posts and content to inspire in others? (It’s okay if there is a different emotion that’s not listed, write that one down!)

When I think about the answers above, to what extent am I posting and sharing content online that makes me feel proud of what I’m sharing?

What's one thing I can do this week to post content that aligns with the emotion I stated in question 3? How might I feel after doing this?

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Representing a Real Me

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It can be easy to forget that whole people are behind the images on social media accounts. Even when we see only one aspect of their lives on a page, there’s so much more to them: They have friends, family, struggles, hobbies, interests, etc. As more and more of our lives are lived online, other people are looking there to get a sense of who we are - from potential romantic partners to college admissions boards to future employers. How are you representing who you are online? (Seriously, you’re dynamic no matter how much or little you do, feel, think, or like.)

Page4-Tab4 The Real Me

If someone were to look at my social media account and posts, what conclusions might they draw? What impression do I think they might have? Another way to think of this is, “Who would they think I am as a whole person?”

Are there parts of myself I am less likely to share on social media? Why?

Do the accounts I follow and posts I like or comment on offer an accurate representation of a real me?

What's something I can start doing today to make my more representative of me as a whole? (This might be following accounts related to an interest, sharing a post about a part of my life I don’t usually, etc.)

How does it feel to think about sharing more of my authentic self through posts, comments, and follows?

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Learning A Bit About Algorithms

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An important piece of social media literacy is recognizing that media shapes how we understand reality. So when algorithms purposefully suggest content that is similar to what we already follow, it’s easy to start to believe that our point of view is the only one out there.

Did you know that according to research, social media accounts of BIPOC and other marginalized creators are often filtered out or flagged by algorithms? Worthwhile posts may not be shared because the creator’s account doesn’t have many followers yet. So we’re likely not seeing an authentic reflection of reality on our social media feeds.

Page4-Tab5 Be The Change

Do I currently follow social media accounts that uplift diverse examples of attractiveness and beauty that fall outside of the mainstream beauty standards?

If I don’t already follow people who are very different from me, how might my interactions with social media be different if I were to?

Do I experience any internal resistance to following people who are different than me? If so, what might that resistance be trying to tell or teach me?

I already know it feels bad that my posts may not get shared when I don’t have a big following. But how would I feel if I knew my race, religion, gender, ability, or sexuality were preventing my information from being shared on social media?

Could there be any benefit of seeking out different viewpoints, body types, or lifestyles on my social media? If so, what?

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Be Yourselfie

(Engage in social media literacy)

Opening Up Thoughtfully

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Posting Real Images

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Getting Wise about Media Manipulations

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Representing a Real Me

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Learning A Bit About Algorithms

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