I'm Here For The Instagram Photos Of Your Food
Are we policing other people's content? and how I feel about Instagram RN
Let’s bring the joy back to photo sharing!
I don’t know about you but I’ve been privy to some seemingly innocuous in person comments over time on other people’s content — it’s usually something along the lines of ‘Who wants to (or no one really wants to) see pictures of their dinner?’ or ‘They post too much. . .’ or ‘They take too many photos of X’.
Have you noticed any similar comments lately?
Whether they’re about us or not, they often change the way we feel about what we post ourselves.
But, aside from how these comments make us feel about our own content, I genuinely want to see photos of
your dinner, snacks, breakfast, baking, aesthetic food and the food at random (to me) events
your pets
your workouts
scenery you’re admiring
random bunches of flowers
an outfit you love
I’m just here to say — I’m here for the Instagram photos of your food or any other small joy you wish to share. Photo dumps are my personal favourite to scroll through at the moment (I may be late to the party or hanging on too long).
We’ve all seen Instagram, and online content generally, evolve wildly over the years. I’ve not always been an avid user of social media and have a slightly on-and-off relationship with the photo sharing platform. The time-consuming wondering about whether people will have any interest in something I might post has cropped up one too many times for me — It strips some of the joy and creativity out of photo taking and sharing (as well as the fact that I can pretty easily predict which of my own images will be liked).
I love Instagram for the creativity it allows me to express, however small, and seeing others do the same. I enjoy it for the conversations it starts when someone responds to a story or post, and also for generally lifting people up with these comments (just another opportunity to support them, be celebratory, kind and encouraging) and it does spark IRL conversations too. It also helps me get to know people better when they share little things that might not have come up in conversation — I know we can ask more questions in person but it’s an added bonus to me to have these little insights.
I also recognise that I’ve followed or sought out other people’s photos, whether it be an influencer or a friend, and if I’m not interested in certain aspects of their content I can undo this (or hide/mute). Although, I know this can be hard with friends and even acquaintances.
Aside from this available option, I just love seeing people celebrate whatever they want to. Especially people I love IRL. I want to see their passions, them romanticising their lives and enjoying the small things — it encourages me to do this in my everyday life — and I think social media would be a less joyful place for me without the everyday things. It also just reminds me to celebrate more and of all the things there are to be grateful for.
I also think, and hope, that just as people will get excited about what you’re passionate about in real life, and in real conversation, the same applies (or at least it does for me) in the social media world.
As for me, I probably won’t be posting A LOT any time soon (I’m aware of the many negative sides to social media). I’d say that I average at about 1-3 posts a month at the moment. I just hope that when I do show up — it’s joyfully.
Let me know what kind of thing you like to post and see. . .
I’m interested in whatever it is!
Maybe we can all get a little inspiration, for our next posts, to bring a little more joy back to Instagram.
I’d love to hear your opinion. Any thoughts on Instagram at the moment?
sentiment is shared about finding joy and inspiration in seeing others celebrate and find their joy in the small things, even if they seem trivial!
Yesss I love this! As someone who is quite nosy and curious, I'm always interested in seeing what people are up to and what they've been enjoying!