Why people look better on Instagram than in real life

First of all, sorry, if I’ll be too cynical. But have you noticed that most people look better and more interesting on instagram than in real life.

They seem confident, reading trendy books, traveling, sharing deep thoughts, living a hack of a life, I’d say. But when you see them in real life, you might find them depressed, looking less glossy, in a rather shabby surrounding or environment created by someone else.

Why, we, created this false illusion we call social networks? Why do we need to make a better impression of ourselves? That we are smarter, younger, prettier, hotter, richer… than we actually are.

Sometimes I see people I know very well through their social network profiles and wonder — why do they appear so different to me. Very few people have an opposite affect — cool and exciting and extremely attractive in real life, but quite plain on photographs.

Maybe it’s the art of knowing your angles, as models know it. Portraying your best sides.

For me, if given a choice, I’d choose to feel and look good in real life — healthy, happy and radiant, not giving much fuck about pictures and impression, but when filmed, looking pretty as hell.

I don’t know what you gotta do for that. Maybe it’s the prerogative of younger people, who, by default look good on camera. Well, I wasn’t that kind of kid and rarely had any good pictures.

Maybe just be you, the best you you can be and whoever takes pictures, captures that, if he sees. Other than that, I don’t get the point of making a better impression of yourself than you actually are. Cause in real life people see you through.

Besides, beauty is in the eyes of a beholder, didn’t someone say that. We can be beautiful in someone’s eyes without realizing that. That, I guess, is the true beauty. And the best photographers are probably those who can capture moments like this. Moments of beauty, divine beauty. And not necessarily people, but sceneries, atmosphere and all.

So, why people appear better on their social network profiles than in real life? Maybe that’s the lack of confidence. The more we try to conceal something the more it’s vivid to others. The more we expose something the more we bet on it as our forte and biggest asset.

Photographs provide a lot of information for people who can read them. Focusing on certain elements can give an impression meant to be made or made unintentionally.

Thus, when I see too many ‘happy’ pictures, I guess that person is probably sad in life. Too many ‘pretty’ pictures make me question if that person is self-sufficient and truly confident. Too many advices and preaching content makes me question if that person lives by his/her rules. Heap of travel pictures makes me think of tags or urination animals use to mark their territory.

All of it is fine, we are sharing content, right. But, do we always operate and create from abundance? Or is it lack?

I remember once seeing Scarlet Johannsen’s (sorry, if I misspelled her name) interview, where she said she’s got no extra time and nerve cells to have social networks account. And she’s one of the most beautiful and successful women in the world. Christopher Nolan?

I mean, it’s cool to share stuff, it’s useful, helpful, inspiring. But worth asking yourself — am I doing it from abundance or lack?