After taking a break overseas, I decided to take one final holiday from my actual holiday.

This break involved going with a large group to the hot springs and having a relaxing day in the water, soaking up the view of nature.

We got to the top of the hill where the hot spring with the best view and highest temperature was situated. Our group proceeded to enter the spa until two Queen’s of BS stole the show.

For over 45 minutes, these two Instagram Queens took photos of themselves!!! They were covered in fake tan and make-up, had very skimpy bikinis on that hid nothing, and were acting extra flirty.

What’s worse is that their parents were also in the same spa and were embarrassed. After a while, it became more than a joke to everyone that was sharing the spa with them. Then one guy whispered to me,

“They’re Instagram Influencers and so this is fundamental to their online strategy.”

Just when I thought the madness was over, I then bumped into these Instagram Queens again while walking past a man-made waterfall.

They were posing like Baywatch was looking for new bimbo’s to put in an upcoming remake of the 90’s TV show.

They were throwing their hair back, flashing too much breast, blowing kisses and god knows what else. This whole day of going to the hot springs became quite bizarre.

If taking freaking selfies in a hot tub and showing how hot you think you are is an “Online Strategy” then shoot me now.

This Instagram Culture we have been cheated into thinking is important, is retarded.

I don’t care what you did on Saturday afternoon. What’s in it for me?

That’s the question you should ask yourself before you take any photo and put it on Instagram in the hope of building some meaningless following.

Your audience doesn’t care what you did on Saturday afternoon. Your audience follows you because they want value. They want to learn from what you did but they do not want to build up your ego. Your audience doesn’t want to fuel your own selfish desires.

Fake is the new black.

Instagram and social media work when it’s real and authentic. The trouble is that too many of you are using it to show your life off which is fake. The way you really build an audience is to do something that people care about. Show how much of a good human being you can be.

Bring people on a journey and entertain them. Use the medium to inspire them to follow their own dreams or live their passion.

“We’re drowning in a sea of fakeness and all of us are craving something real for breakfast”

Fake is ugly.
Fake is being incongruent with your true self which leads to unhappiness.
Fake is boring, meaningless and repetitive nonsense.

Remember what’s important to you.

This Instagram Culture warps what is important. Deep down, your family, your meaning for life, your life’s work and your need to grow is what matters – not this Instagram Culture.

You are not a joke.

These Instagram Queens I met mentioned several times that it was all a joke: it wasn’t. You are not a joke so don’t act like you are. You’re not required to do what everyone else does and post selfies all day long. Use this time to create and inspire.

Act like a joke and you’ll become a joke. The only difference is that the joke will be on you and you won’t be laughing when this river of pain hit’s you in the face. The reality of your Instagram madness will get you sooner or later.

It’s designed to suck your time.

Wonder why you haven’t created anything in the last two weeks? It’s because you’ve unconsciously pissed away your time and given it to Instagram on a plate. They’ve then sold this plate of Instagram BS to their database of advertisers and they’re having a very expensive lunch on your attention.

It’s a big joke and you need to win back your attention.

I just opened my very first direct message on Instagram last week. It’s thanks to a new feature that gives me a big red notification when I open the app. Add that notification to my WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger, Email, Facebook, and LinkedIn direct messages and I could easily become a slave to a master I don’t even know.

Social media is here to stay but think about how you use it. Think about controlling your addiction and if you can’t, then give it up altogether.

Show your flaws.

I asked the dad of these two Instagram Queens why they take so many selfies. He said that it’s so they get the “perfect” shot. He said his daughters would go through hundreds of photos when they get home to try and find the shot that they end up posting. That shot will then have a whole bunch of filters applied to it.

What if you didn’t filter your life?
What if you showed your flaws?
What if perfect was disgusting?

I don’t believe this Instagram Culture has taught us the right way of going about our lives.

“Our flaws are beautiful and so are we as human beings”

While at the hot springs, many guys and girls had t-shirts on to cover their body. I’ve never seen so many people doing this.

It’s because we’ve become more self-conscious than ever about our bodies because we feel they are not worthy or perfect enough for Instagram. I say screw it and that’s why I didn’t cover up and never will. I’m proud of who I am. I’m proud of where I come from and no Instagram standard is ever going to make me wear a t-shirt at the hot springs out of fear that people might judge me.

My flaws are what have defined me. The same can apply to you.

You will lie sometimes.
You will fail sometimes.
You will do stuff you regret sometimes.

You can do the impossible. You can achieve anything.

Instagram doesn’t have all the answers and it shouldn’t define our culture or make us do stuff without consciously thinking about it.

Make a stand!

Spend a whole weekend without taking a photo.
Make your life about something meaningful.
Find a way to add value to people’s lives.
Go against the trend.

When you do take a photo, forget how you look. Show us a photo of you with your hair messed up. Show us your love handles baby!

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