Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
I don’t think there is much benefit in most social media, but a couple of weeks ago I decided to suspend my Instagram account as well. The reality of the matter is that people out there are not interested in beautiful pictures, what they are interested in is actually women dressed in bikinis, or less, and what I would consider inappropriate photographs, at least in terms of publishing them to the world as opposed to one’s boyfriend! Anybody who has those types of photos has thousands of followers, if not tens of thousands, and what was incredibly interesting to me was watching and following for a while some of the friends of a young relative of mine. I met the friends, I saw the life they lived - and what I saw in real life and what I saw on Instagram was completely different.
The Instagram “model”, when she is standing in your kitchen, without makeup with her extremely unattractive latest boyfriend, does not even begin to resemble all the bikini g-string type photographs she has on her profile. Another person, whose parents I know are financially struggling, only post pictures to his Instagram account that shows him wearing a R15,000 jacket and standing in front of private jets on the way to a skiing holiday. I have watched that myself in my offices over the years where staff will say that candidate attorney X is very wealthy, because her parents have given her the latest new car. Nobody ever stops to enquire as to whether that car is financed, like so many people’s cars are, and whether or not that is really a sign that mom and dad are “wealthy” or are just taking on more and more finance and living on credit? And how do we define wealth anyway – but things bought on credit or actual cash in the bank or shares?
I think the reality is what we see on Instagram is a distortion, it brings out the worst in humanity – or as somebody else puts it rather bluntly, “encourages more assholes” and it ends up making half of the people sick with jealousy. I would be interested in something if a beautiful picture of a mountain with snow on it or a picture of the Lighthouse at Umhlanga Rocks are always rewarded with followers, but truthfully, let’s be honest, to get followers you need to have three 21 year olds standing in g-strings in front of the Lighthouse while using a whole lot of hash tags like #sexy #instamodel #gstring – you may laugh, but that’s the reality of who generally has the most followers or likes!
Do you really get deep happiness and satisfaction out of posting show off pics or seeing those of others? Does anyone else really care as they rack up those “likes” on your account or are they secretly jealous and just liking your pics so you will “like” theirs?
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Friday 15-Mar-19
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Comments
Tamaryn said:
on Wednesday 24-Apr-19 09:35 AM
It's all about external gratification and false acknowledgement and it's very sad. What does a "like" mean anyway? Do people really think that someone holds you in higher esteem because they hit the "like" button. Do they think that that person admires you more and wants to be you because of one button? Do they spend the remainder of their day absorbed in your world and your "greatness"? No, they really don't. The secure and content of this world don't need shallow reactions and don't need to compete.
patrick said:
on Wednesday 03-Apr-19 08:08 AM
Luckily I was never impressed by it. it has always bieng about showing up what you do and what you own.
cornelie said:
on Tuesday 02-Apr-19 10:23 AM
Instagram and facebook is the same poeple do post allot of rubbish.
Sinead said:
on Tuesday 02-Apr-19 09:21 AM
There are two ends to this stick:
On the one hand - I couldn't agree with you more. Instagram has become very pretentious and that is the exact reason I deactivated my account in January. Living life without knowing what others are doing is complete bliss! Them not knowing about my personal life is even better.
On the other - People should be able to post whatever they want. It's their account at the end of the day. And if you follow that account then you must enjoy their posts. If you don't then rather unfollow them.
Liz said:
on Monday 01-Apr-19 04:59 PM
This is so true, and most people, including myself , are guilty of following the likes on their posts every few minutes. There is so much more to life than a "like count" and I believe a lot of people will be much happier were it not for social media and the pressures that come along with it.
Joyce said:
on Friday 29-Mar-19 04:51 PM
I think in social media some people' s behavior it's a disgrace
Zindy said:
on Friday 29-Mar-19 09:07 AM
On Facebook People get to post stories, pictures, news, anything really whereby Instagram is strictly pictures. I recently opened a new page but for adverting purposes and marketing of a product that we are selling. I taught since it was picture related its a good way to market.
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 29-Mar-19 08:30 AM
I feel that social media creates more problems then any good. I am not an attention seeker so these sites do not interest me much.
Sarah said:
on Friday 29-Mar-19 08:14 AM
I am really not on any social media. People dont really post positive things on social media these days and they are influence by other people as well.
Prishani said:
on Thursday 28-Mar-19 05:21 PM
If I had instagram I think I would be the most boring user ever! I would hardly post anything. I do like looking at some Instagram pages for the different holiday destinations and wonderful food pictures. The motivational quotes and sayings are also nice.
Bianca Taljaard said:
on Thursday 28-Mar-19 01:20 PM
I totally agree, downloaded Instagram and never went on it again, it is disgusting to see what people post.....no shame what so ever
Alexis said:
on Wednesday 27-Mar-19 02:11 PM
I have deactivated myself from Facebook, have never gotten into any of these features and am quite happy to not have any of it. The world has been quite messed up about what the apparent norm is of these days
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Wednesday 27-Mar-19 08:26 AM
I agree with Shristi. So many people fool their friend and family with what they post on their social media. Some people put up such a front of how happy they are or how great their marriage is but behind close doors it's a different story.
Michelle Smal said:
on Tuesday 26-Mar-19 10:31 AM
Most of the people on Instagram and even some on Facebook are dilutional people. Creating such a great lifestyle for their followers when it is all just an image they put on. I believe social media do have benefits for businesses but for people browsing around it only takes away valuable time in your life.
#stop_living_in-front_a_screen
Thabitha said:
on Tuesday 26-Mar-19 09:29 AM
Lately people are not interested in reality they are putting lots of time and energy on fake and untruth stories, that is why everyone is so jealous and depressed.
Michelle D said:
on Tuesday 26-Mar-19 08:53 AM
This topic is particularly relevant to someone like me who spent so many years following fitness pages and models and feeling frustrated because no matter how much I exercised or how much lettuce I ate I would never look like that. A few years back, I discovered a page of a girl who advocates for body positivity. She posts about just being healthy and happy with yourself regardless of your appearance. I have since then followed many more positive pages and travel blogs and meme pages. Instagram has turned into something that cheers me up rather than puts me down.
Mathilda Du Preez said:
on Tuesday 26-Mar-19 07:35 AM
I agree with Daniella people can post whatever they want, at the end of the day it's your choice of what you want to see on your timeline and what you don't want to see.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Monday 25-Mar-19 07:47 AM
I don't like being on social media at all i don't have Instagram or Facebook. Instagram is a social media network whereby people look for attention and Facebook is so full of negative post all the time.
brumilde said:
on Monday 25-Mar-19 07:32 AM
I went on instagram when it 1st came out, not even a while later i lost interest. I still dont see the hype. I Heard people even made a living by partaking in Influencer marketing. So you basically show people what is hip and cool. Lol i must be very old school then.
Shristi said:
on Saturday 23-Mar-19 07:48 PM
I personally think that social media on a whole is a misrepresentation of one's circumstances. Everyone is always posting the good but never the bad.This in turn gives the youth the idea that life is meant to be lived a certain way and many become so pressurized to portray such a lifestyle.
Megan said:
on Friday 22-Mar-19 03:27 PM
I have Instagram and I think it can get a bit much sometimes. I agree with Victoria that people aren't always true to themselves when posting because they're posting only the good stuff happening in their lives - how happy and eventful life is, but as Daniella said, who would want to watch someone sobbing?
Daniella said:
on Friday 22-Mar-19 11:07 AM
I think people should be able to post what they would like on Instagram if a girl is confident enough to wear a thong bikini that's amazing for her! I on the hand could never. People tend to follow pages that they enjoy looking at- I Follow a lot of dog and animal pages because those are pictures I would like to see on my timeline. A lot of people also say that people only post the good in their lives but what do we expect them to take selfies while they cry and tell us a long sobby story that really no one will be interested in.
Victoria said:
on Wednesday 20-Mar-19 04:43 PM
I feel like these people who are not being true to themselves, these Social Media platforms give people the opportunity to create a perfect image of themselves which isn't true. Everyone has their bad days, but they will never post about there bad days. I don't even post on social media anymore, it is so difficult to keep up with everything that it becomes tiring. There is no point to post your whole life on social media there is no need for it. Live in the moment and stay present!
Claudia B said:
on Wednesday 20-Mar-19 08:45 AM
I have Instagram, and you do get people that will be on Instagram 24/7. But sometimes it's nice to see the photo's people post from around the world.
Zandelee said:
on Wednesday 20-Mar-19 08:05 AM
I am also taking a break from Instagram. Instagram often just shows all the fancy and good things in people's lifes and never the bad. People are also obsessed with how many likes they get on their photos and will glue themselves to their phones refreshing it every 5 minutes to see who liked their photo - this to me leads to an obsession and people forgetting how to be social in person. Also so many young adults have said to get depressed because of social media like Instagram and often commit suicide. This to me is very sad.
Fikile said:
on Tuesday 19-Mar-19 02:43 PM
Social media is in both ways, it's sometimes good and again bad for other people. like most people post their bodies on line because most people in their lives don't compliment them that much or not even enough so they turn into social media to give them a boost about how they look. then again it's bad because other people end up killing themselves because of the comments that they get from other people.
Natasha said:
on Tuesday 19-Mar-19 08:30 AM
I have Instagram but I barely go on it.Its becoming an annoyance. Its the same thing over and over again.I only go onto social media if I really have nothing to do.
Courtney said:
on Monday 18-Mar-19 12:36 PM
I have never had Instagram, never will I ever have it.
I do have Facebook but I barely use it.
Social Media sucks! It's were all the drama begins...
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Monday 18-Mar-19 11:34 AM
I think we are awfully quick to judge people from their online accounts. Everyone is different and should be able to do what they want. Just like how people can choose to unfollow accounts that they dont want to see. The reality is, sex sells! It didn't develop yesterday and has been a thing for ages. I certainly don't think a lot of social media is healthy. It creates a generation of out of touch, jealous and show off a-holes.
I am glad that I have deleted social media but now and then I do miss it. I wonder why do you miss social media - well when I am bored I like to see what some people or celebrities are up to. I just know however, that social media is addictive!
Jadine Richards said:
on Monday 18-Mar-19 10:58 AM
I always find it astonishing to see how people on Instagram are living such lavish lives. Always wondering how it is that they afford to live such a lifestyle and whether I have gone seriously wrong at some point in my life. This is a reminder that not everything is at it seems to be. These stories on Instagram often portray a context that is not in fact a reality.
Jadine Esterhuizen said:
on Monday 18-Mar-19 08:19 AM
Social media has a way of letting the young and innocent being accustom to showing off the extravagant life though truly at times its the exact opposite.
You tend to see half naked pics with the most likes and comments but very little with a graduation outfit that covers everything.
Jessica M said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 02:06 PM
Well I personally don't like Instagram. What is the actual point of it? I have an account I think I post if even once a year. I can't stand how people overdo their daily lives on the damn thing too. Look at me drinking, look at me bathing, look at me gyming. It's of no point where as other people might find that they enjoy that. I personally don't.
Michelle Smillie said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 01:42 PM
Unfortunately social media allows social profiles and identities to cloud people's judgments of reality, and even more unfortunately some people start living in the fantasy world of their social identities, believing that their real lives are not sad. We should all do our best to protect ourselves against this and keep our minds inside the current reality and not the what-ifs and what-could-bes.
Clare said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 09:11 AM
I must say that what people post on social media is very upsetting, It is either Sex, Drugs and Death, my heart hurts on the stuff about kids. I don't like being online I don't like seeing these thing and this Is why I keep away from it.
Angelica Canosa said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 08:51 AM
AMEN to this post!!!! my thoughts exactly.. I have little respect for women who pose half naked/naked in order to get attention. Women always talk about earning respect and being respected for their intelligence but then they portrait themselves as a "sex objects" by wearing thongs and posting it with inspirational nonsense and hashtags.
Social media is a false reality and can be an addiction. They have even linked higher usage of social media with increased risks for depression and anxiety disorders.It is very difficult to live up to a standard that is based on fiction and people representing only the best version of their lives.
Bianca N said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 08:40 AM
I have removed the Instagram app from my phone. I haven't been on there in ages although I am sure my account is still active, it hasn't been used. I don't even remember my login details. There is no point in it honestly, especially since all the filters you find on there is also on your phone now.
david said:
on Friday 15-Mar-19 07:29 AM
social media is rubbish.
it helps to keep people dumbed down so they don't think about real issues.
did you know that some people get their news from facebook?
i don't think i need to say more...
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
