This Former Model Decided to Quit Social Media But not Before She Reveals the Truth Behind it
This model decides to quit social media for good but not before she reveals the truth behind it.
The 18-year-old model, Essena O’Neill was an internet sensation with almost 580,000 followers on Instagram from which she made thousands of dollars.
The Australian girl suddenly decided to quit social media, but not before deleting 2,000 photos from her account and change the name to “Social Media Is Not Real Life.”
But before O’Neill has re-captioned many of her photos to reveal the truth behind them, and launched a new website “Let’s Be Game Changers.”
This comes, perhaps as a coincidence, after the photographer revealed in a photo shoot the truth behind every Instagram post.
O’Neill had to say this about her sudden change:
“Without realising, I’ve spent the majority of my teenage life being addicted to social media, social approval, social status and my physical appearance. “
“Social media, especially how I used it, isn’t real. It’s a system based on social approval, likes, validation in views, success in followers. It’s perfectly orchestrated, self-absorbed judgement.”
“And yes, I quit all of social media. With 570,00+ followers on Instagram, 250,000+ subscribes on YouTube, 250,000+ on Tumblr and 60,000+ average views on Snapchat. Tumblr and Snapchat gone forever.
“My Instagram left to expose the harsh and often humorous reality behind the #goals #instafamous culture and YouTube for purely vegan education. Deleting all those apps from my phone was one of the most empowering and freeing thing I have ever done,” she explains on her website.
On many of her re-edited posts, she criticizes the brands that paid her to model, saying “we are a generation told to consume and consume, with no thought of where it all comes from and where it all goes.”
Her Instagram is now private, it seems that she got what she wanted after all.
With such claims likes hers, it was expected that someone would come forward and speak against her. So it has happened.
Fitness model, Kayla Itsines shared a message of her own regarding the expectations and perceptions of online living.
She said: “ Three weeks ago, I made a post explaining ‘a side of social media that you don’t see.’ What it REALLY takes. I explained that it’s not as simple as posting a few photos of beautiful food, new clothes, luxury items… and BAM life is amazing. On my account… you don’t see a lot of things… the 5 am wake ups, the late nights, the constant bullying, the lack of support and understanding of friends, the stress… and so much more.”
She reminded readers,
My life, my food, my family… isn’t YOUR life, everyone is different. I post these transformations to show you there are SOOOO many girls out there on so many different journeys. All with one goal, to be happy, healthy and fit! Don’t strive to live like, or be like, one person on social media.
With who do you agree with? Tell us your opinion in the comments below!
