Does Posting Photos During Festivities Make You Extra Conscious?

We all have imbibed the compulsive habit of posting our photos on social media on special occasions like the different festivals we celebrate. But it's not the same for everyone because we all look at ourselves from different viewpoints. Have you ever thought twice before uploading a photo online?

As we progress, the internet and social media have grown onto us and the need to be present on social media has become a necessity. Social media is also a pool of wrong beauty standards, insecurities, and misleading lifestyles and creates a competitive mindset among everyone. It makes you compare yourself with others without any context, in the most unhealthy manner. It could affect the job you do, the lifestyle you conduct and also the way you look.

Facing Body Image Issues While Posting Photos Online

Whenever there is a festival or some special day on the calendar and we plan to go out, have fun and of course take photos. The photos also go on social media to prove that you did have fun. Now along with this need to showcase that you had fun, it also brings in insecurities for many regarding how they look compared to the ideal body image that society has set for us. If one notices, they will remember a number of their friends say that their photos need to be posted only with their permission. Examining the photo and making sure there are no explicit flaws in the photos go through several checks and finally posted. Beginning from skin colour to body size, height, eyes, nose and everything can be edited to match the standards to battle the constant ">body shaming. It's unfair to call them names because it is the immense pressure put on women, especially since revealing their natural self feels like a failure.

This year on Christmas when I took photos of myself and looked at them, I thought to myself "how pretty do I look" but the same time I noticed the weight that I have put on in the last one year, the bulging belly and thicker arms compared to my own photos from a year back.

The whole idea of how we look at our bodies and treat them is highly problematic. My body is what keeps me alive, and survived diseases and all we can think of it as a piece of flesh that needs carving. My body survived a pandemic, consistent stress, mental health issues, and overcoming a huge list of crises so this coming year, all I can promise to myself is to take care of it and never fall into the traps of these unrealistic and unhealthy beauty standards.

Ragini Daliya, a journalist based in Siliguri, West Bengal, who has experienced a similar feeling while posting her photos online, said, "Every time before posting something, I check the photo from all angles, trying to find any flaws. I send it to my friends, hear out their opinions, probably try to gain validation if the photo is ‘Insta-worthy’". The pressure of looking perfect on social media is immense, but Daliya hopes to get rid of these feelings, she said, "It will probably take many therapy sessions and self-care rituals to get rid of these thoughts."

Aaliya Waziri shared her own journey with body image issues, she spoke about the time she asked women followers online if anyone was a victim of fat shaming. To her shock, there was a huge response to it which proved how real and big the problem is. Waziri said, "The women I spoke to talked about how you aren’t considered ‘acceptable’ enough until you have clear glowing skin with a “no make-up” look. Unknowingly, all these women echoed the same things: You are pretty as long you’re thin and fair and your lower belly doesn’t protrude out. Read more about her here.

Anushka Biswas, who is a professional, spoke about how she battles her body image issues while putting herself out on the internet. Biswas frequently posts photos online and she mentioned that most of the time, the feeling of not being pretty enough comes back to mind. She said that recently when she shared her photos, her close friends and relative pointed out her increased hairfall, acne and someone even said that she looks exhausted. Biswas was very happy with the photos and with such comments, she could not see the same photos as beautiful again.

She said, "I am suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome which causes immense hairfall and acne and currently the job I am in there are hectic shifts which have affected my sleep cycle badly so maybe that is the reason I look exhausted but I fail to understand why people think they have the right to comment on my body just because they can see it on their phone screens." Biswas also said that people who don't regard others' feelings will never be satisfied with how others look, whether you are fat or thin they will continue to find flaws. She concluded by saying, "I have decided that I will not take other's comments so seriously and will never stop falling in love with my own body, no matter which shape I attain."