Rinsta VS Finsta: The Secret Instagram Trend

‘In a postmodern world reality is unconceivable, fantasy on the cusp of reality the boundaries are blurred, Are we dreaming or are we awake, in this bubble we call home nothing is certain,

A demonic mirage shimmering in the distance, split open with a pin is an empty hollow we call the unknown, night and dark are polar opposites but the same, light and shade are tales of two worlds combined’

In a world defined by technology both women and men are pressurized into aesthetic ‘perfection’ , influenced by the rise of ‘social media’ tools and Photograph that help construct an ‘unrealistic reality’. The glorification of photographical and celebrity based culture feeds into aesthetic perfection where surgical enhancements, designer labels and exotic destinations are force fed down our throats. As consumers we covet this unattainable lifestyle that can open the doors to oppurtunities we never dreamed existed yet as people we are ashamed, ashamed that the lifestyle we are promoting is not real. You are not alone, even celebrities admit that a simple ‘selfie’ has been an hour debacle throwing 200 others at the bottom of the unrealistic heap while many bloggers admit that their feed is a reflection of a lifestyle they wish they could have.

Instagram runs by a follow & engagement basis, the more followers you have the more time put into your feed to keep your followers satisfied. A simple like or comment validates our status as humans and we feel acomplished when our engagement rate is high, even if the majority is doing it for a ‘like for like basis’. Are we that unsatisified with the quality of our lives that we resort to external validation from a source that should not matter to us? I admit I am a user who feels validated when my follow & engagement rate increases but am never fully satisfied, always craving to get more recognition faster and why is this? It is because we live in a ‘fast consumer’ culture where technology means that everything is available at a drop of a button.

Which is why many Instagram users are now creating two seperate accounts: Finsta and Rinsta to suit two audiences. As bloggers we use ‘Finsta’ a marketing portfolio showcasing highlights from our brand , primarily concerned with ‘insta-worthy’ shots that will attract a larger scale audience and until now ‘quick’ or ‘shameful’ shots were relegated to Facebook and Snapchat. Meet the ‘Rinsta’ phenomenen, a craze that is fighting against the artificial image of a traditional Instagram feed by capturing reality as we see it in the flesh. Drinks in plastic cups, drunken nights out and group shots are the most popular ‘rinsta’ shots proving that the ‘real’ is far more accurate expression of humanity than a socially constructed image that hides the truth from its readers. Sounds like a positive phenonomen? Well think again…

Rinsta Feed

Not all Rinsta feeds are a positive expression of our identity and in some ways can do more damage than good. Take Essena O’Neil the popular ‘social media star’ who resigned from Instagram because she claimed that her ‘rinsta’ shots were all endorsements, rewarded by technological validation and could no longer pretend that this lifestyle was a true projection of her everyday life. So how can we tell the difference between a real ‘rinsta’ feed and a ‘rinsta’ feed that is still a subjective reality? Would it not be better to stick to a ‘finsta’ account and show a constructed reality instead? At least your readers will know that it is not real right?

Even with a ‘Finsta’ account we alienate our friends, where many scroll through countless feeds feeling dejected that their lives or not as covetable or validated as ours may seem. In reality we ‘Finsta’ users are just like everybody else caught up in a world that exists purely on the internet. With the increasing usage of technological platforms our lives are seemingly defined by social media and it seems impossible to escape when many are rewarded for their hard work through social media platforms.

Once caught up in the world of literary lore my heart has been caught by the social media bug and in a way it rejects everything that I have said above. My need for social validation stems from a difficult childhood and my desire to help others. Therefore the more follows and likes I get the more I can influence readers/followers to be true to themselves. I am not promoting an ‘uncovetable’ lifestyle but am attempting to transform Instagrams focus on visual orientation into a more postive sphere for change, where words can create a window into the depths of your soul.

Finsta Feed With A Focus On Content