Fill Your Feed With Activists; Ditch the Celebrities
It is well known that social media, especially Instagram is contributing to a sense of diminished self-worth in users. It is easy to see why: an endless scroll of glamorous celebrities, gorgeous exotic locations, expensive cars, huge houses, luxurious foods, and on and on, all served to you with immediacy and a fake sense of intimacy, but all that does is make us realize how comparatively small our house is, how ordinary our spaghetti was for dinner last night, and how we will probably never ride in a Bentley, much less own one, and we will almost certainly never be sent free clothes from designers who are hoping to get a piece of our “fame.” It’s destructive, depressing, and utterly unnecessary.
Now while some will suggest that you should just ditch Instagram altogether, and there is a case to be made for that, I have a different idea. All across IG, and other social media sites as well, activists for every cause you care about are using the platform to amplify their voices. They are using IG to change hearts and minds, and you should be subscribed to them.
For example, one of my favorites is Rachel Cargle. Rachel has been trying to educate people about racism for a long time now, and has a feed full of insight and uncomfortable conversations that need to be had. I especially love the posts where she takes an argument and deconstructs it piece by piece. I always learn something when I read her posts, and I am challenged by the ideas there. It’s a place of growth.
Another account I recommend is Official Millenial Black. OMB uses Instagram to split big ideas across several images like a slideshow. They present ways to take action or think in a different way about race, racism, and being an ally. They’re often blunt and honest as we need to be right now, without being mean or cruel. I’ve found them helpful and inspiring.
I have been a fan of W. Kamau Bell for a long time, between his show on CNN, and his podcasts, and his book, Bell has a way of making me laugh at even really painful moments. This post made me laugh and then cry. It’s one of the best explanations of what “Defund the Police” could look like.
There are also a host of authors that everyone should be reading right now, including Ijeoma Olou, Ibram X Kendi, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. All of them have deep and meaningful things to say. Following them gives you a direct line to their thoughts, as well as see who they interact with, and who is inspiring them.
This is going to be especially important as the news drifts away from the #BLM protests and on to some other topic, as they always do. Once it is out of sight, it is easy to lose the thread. Replacing the celebrities with activists, authors, and movements means you stay current, and can act on that information as it happens.
Truly, the more you replace celebrities and other fluff with those seeking meaningful change, the more you will feel inspired and energized. You will be better informed. You will feel more motivated. You will feel better.
Instagram doesn’t need to be a place that makes you feel worse about yourself. Instead, let’s make it the place that really helps change the world.
— If you have some accounts you like, or want to suggest, please leave them in comments below. Thanks for your time!
