Insta-geddon

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

If you’ve perused the internet recently, you may have heard the latest “buzz” that is shaking the interwebs.

Instagram will be hiding the “likes” on photos.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Right now, every photo on Instagram shows a tally of how many people “liked” a photo. Jennifer Aniston, for example, gets literally millions of likes per photo…where as your girl here, I’m lucky if I break 1,000.

You can find me on Instagram @beauty.beyond.bones

But for better or for worse, there has always been a numerical value attached to people’s posts, indicating how “successful” of a photo it is.

And starting soon, Instagram is doing away with that feature.

People will still be able to like it, but there will no longer be a numerical tally keeping score publicly.

You can find me on Instagram @beauty.beyond.bones

And it’s safe to say, the influencer community is quite literally shaking in their over-the-knee fashion boots.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret — I think this is a great idea.

Sure, it could either be the greatest thing ever to happen to Instagram, OR the catalyst to its demise, only time will tell. But for the sake of mental health at large, I think this is a giant step in the right direction.

Ever since communities existed, “popularity” has always been a thing. An omnipresent referee that can cause, especially young people, tremendous stress and anxiety.

Pressure to fit in, to be well “liked” — both in person, and on social media — we’re getting so wrapped up in that fickle and fleeting facade of worth. And it’s slowing destroying our sense of self-worth.

We’ve forgotten where our true value lies.

During my recovery from anorexia, this particular issue was one that was not only incredibly difficult to overcome, but also the lynchpin for my true healing: I had to find my worth and value outside of anything externally dictated. I had to find my true source of worth.

It wasn’t the number on the scale. It wasn’t the size of my jeans, or the number of calories I did or didn’t eat that day.

It wasn’t in how I looked, or what I achieved, or any accolades I may have had.

No. My worth came from the fact that I was created by God – period. End of sentence. Learning this truth – which seems so incredibly elementary now – first brought me to my absolute break point, and then to the greatest freedom I could have ever imagined.

To the world, “good enough” is never good enough. The bar will always be raised higher and higher. And thanks to photoshop, there will always be a new, more unattainable level of perfection that that world demands.

From the way we look, to our job position, to the number of friends we have, the car we drive, — heck — even the number of instagram “likes” we collect.

They assign “value” and “worth” but the fact of the matter is that those indicators are coming from a hollow, empty space.

Their way of assigning value empties the person. It is a reduction of the person to a numerical, or measurable entity.

When we find our worth in Christ, it does just the opposite: it fills us up.

It causes our souls to overflow with the love and grace that only He can provide.

The fact of the matter is that the number of “likes” one receives can never, ever capture the magnitude of worth and value we have in God’s eyes. We cannot put a numerical value on that because it is infinite. It cannot be measured. Nor are our earthly brains even capable of conceptualizing the Father’s love for us.

But it certainly was able to be demonstrated: when Jesus embraced the cross.

That is the ultimate evidence of our worth, and value and dignity. That is the truth that set my free from my anorexia. That helped me embrace life, and accept and love myself: because He loved me first. He loved me so immensely that He poured Himself out for me.

And if He could do that – so could I.

There are no “likes” that could ever communicate that value we hold as His children.

So you know what? Yeah – bring on this “like-free” era of Instagram.

It’s time we start remembering just what it is that truly gives us our value in this life.

What do YOU think about Instagram’s decision to get rid of “likes?”

Also: You can find me on Instagram @beauty.beyond.bones

“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5

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BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

160 thoughts on “Insta-geddon”

  1. I agree! It’s a great idea for us to stop obsessing about how many likes our posts and photos get…that doesn’t determine their value, and all it does is make us anxious about nothing.

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    1. Hi A! thanks for sharing your thoughts! I agree! With WP it’s different than just the popularity contest it is on Instagram! thanks for stopping by! hugs xo

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  3. I am tickled they are removing this feature!! AND I am hoping it creates a trend….wouldn’t it be grand to just enjoy something for the sake of enjoyment or to DO something for the very same purpose WITHOUT the over-shadowing fear “will it be liked” and HOW MUCH “will it be liked???” Giggles.

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    1. Hi Dawn! thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! YES! oh gosh i hope it starts that trend! glad you stopped by! hugs xo

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  5. I completely agree, I’m here for it. It’s the greatest idea! Now maybe spectators may like a post because they genuinely want to as opposed to liking it or not based solely on how many people liked it before them.

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  6. I agree and I’m happy about this change. I’m raising two daughters (16 and 12) and I’ve overheard their friends say, “I’ve only gotten ___ likes on this picture, was it not good enough? Should I not have posted it?” And that breaks my heart. That people are looking for their worth in a number. Thank you for this post. I love your blog and what you stand for! 😘

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    1. Oh gosh – that breaks my heart to hear the kids talk like that … i agree – i think it will do a lot of good! glad you stopped by! hugs xox

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  7. Look for more of this, actually. Tech companies are bowing to the pressure of the vocal minority SJW crowd who are tired of having their insanity ratioed on these platforms. I don’t use any of these, but I expect their general usefulness will decline when they can’t be used by creators to judge engagement.

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  8. Definately a step in the right direction. Hopefully the younger generation will learn to value themselves to more than how many ‘likes’ they get on a picture.

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  9. Great reminder of where our worth comes from! It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 12 where Paul talks about each person having unique gifts and talents to make up the full body of Christ. Thank you for the post!

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  11. I’ve honestly been waiting for Instagram to do something like this. I haven’t used the platform in well over five years, but with this change, I might consider re-joining. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression since college and I hate to admit that social media has always played somewhat of a part in it up until recently. It always made me feel like I needed to compare my life to the seemingly grand and perfect lives of the people I follow. It’s even like that for facebook. I realize now that what we see on social media isn’t always the true and honest case. People can sometimes stretch the truth! Besides that, the number of likes always made me feel inferior to other people back then. Not good enough.

    In college, I struggled with a bout of starving myself that ended up damaging my heart. I’ve always struggled with self confidence and having PCOS, it’s always been difficult to lose weight and therefore, seeing thin ladies getting all the likes wasn’t a healthy thing for me.

    Nowadays, I’m thankful for a select group of people that remind me that my worth doesn’t come from my appearance alone or how many people like my photo or my status. I’m a child of a KING and if that isn’t something to make me feel worthy, nothing can make me feel that way!! I’m unique and talented in my own ways, and God loves me just the way I am!

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    1. Hi Kris! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for sharing your story. Amen to that — the child of a KING! and your worth is totally independent of all of those things! thanks for this beautiful response. big big hugs xo

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  12. No wonder King Solomon looked at the mundanity of humanity and did not fail to see the tagged mediocrity. Vanity.

    Of truth are these: “1. Their way of assigning value empties the person. It is a reduction of the person to a numerical, or measurable entity.
    2. When we find our worth in Christ, it does just the opposite: it fills us up;” your quotations BBB.

    Having been like by the Almighty Jesus, He did count me, putting me in the everlasting mix. And what is the asseveration of the holy One of Israel? “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” [Heb 13:5]. And this is our eternal rest.

    Thank you for this post. Your posts? They can only get better, by the grace of Him who is, was, and is to come.

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  13. Great post! This also ties into studies that were done around Facebook and the ‘Like” button. They found that people would get a small dopamine hit when they see their likes go up on their posts. The dopamine response was a trigger to keep them hooked on Facebook (and other social media outlets).

    Removing the ‘like’ count is definitely a step in the right direction.

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  15. I am so happy to hear that Instagram will be getting rid of the like feature. I think it will help people who struggle with low self esteem. Like you said its about the person not the number of likes you get.

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  18. I’m excited for it to go away. That said, I heard that one will still be able to see their likes, they just won’t be publicly visible. I think this could still present trouble for those who constantly seek that affirmation, especially young folks. But at least the element of competition and comparison will be removed. I don’t think likes should be gone altogether, but this won’t be a cure-all. Let’s see how it shakes out!

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    1. Yeah it will be an interesting change to say the least!! I agree – it will now just be private, but those feelings may still be there! Let’s see!! Fascinating social experiment!! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! Hugs and love xox

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  19. This is a great article. I agree that the likes should be removed. My IG personal account is private. I am making a public account so I can interact with my readers. Thank you for this insight.

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    1. You’re on a reading roll! thanks so much Ada! Yeah it will be interesting so see what happens! And you’re right – it’s a great way to interact with readers! Hugs and love xox

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