Aesthetic Overload: Is the Internet Making Us Perform Our Personality?

In the digital era, the internet has become a central part of our lives. It's our primary source of information, a platform for communication, and a tool for self-expression. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr, the internet has also become a space for us to create and showcase our personal aesthetics. But as our online and offline lives become increasingly intertwined, we must ask ourselves, are we truly expressing our genuine selves, or are we merely performing our personalities for an online audience?

The Rise of Aesthetic Culture on the Internet

Before we delve into whether the internet is making us perform our personality, let's understand the rise of aesthetic culture on the internet.

Aesthetic culture is the expression of beauty, taste, and style, often with a focus on visual elements. On platforms like Instagram and Pinterest, users curate images that reflect a certain mood, style, or vibe. These aesthetics can range from 'minimalist chic' to 'boho vintage,' 'dark academia' to 'cottagecore,' and everything in between.

Social media has amplified this culture to a new level. The 'perfect' Instagram feed is no longer about just posting pretty pictures. It's about curating an aesthetic that represents who you are or, more accurately, who you want to be perceived as.

The Performance of Personality

The internet, particularly social media, is a stage where we can control how our lives are presented to others. We can choose to only show the best parts of our lives, the moments that fit with our chosen aesthetic. This leads us to the concept of 'performing our personality.'

"Performing our personality" means presenting ourselves in a certain way to fit an image or expectation. On social media, this could mean constantly posting pictures of books and coffee if you've chosen a 'cozy, intellectual' aesthetic, even if you're more of a social butterfly offline.

This performance is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be a form of self-expression and creativity. However, it becomes problematic when the performance overtakes our genuine selves, when we feel pressure to fit into an aesthetic box and start shaping our lives around it.

The Pressure to Perform

The pressure to perform our personalities online can come from various sources:

• Social Media Algorithms: Social media platforms show us more of what we've interacted with in the past. If we've liked and shared 'soft girl' aesthetic posts, we're likely to see more of the same. This can make us feel like we need to stick to one aesthetic, even if our tastes and interests are more eclectic.

• Influencer Culture: Many influencers have a very distinct aesthetic, which is part of their brand. Their followers aspire to recreate this aesthetic, sometimes without considering whether it truly represents them.

• Peer Pressure: Seeing our peers curate perfect, aesthetic feeds can make us feel like we need to do the same. We might feel left out or less than if our feed doesn't look as curated or 'pretty.'

The Effects of Aesthetic Overload

The pressure to perform our personality and curate a perfect aesthetic can have serious effects on our mental health and self-perception:

• Inauthenticity: Constantly performing can lead to feelings of inauthenticity. We might feel like we're living a lie or being fake.

• Identity Confusion: If we're constantly trying to fit into an aesthetic box, we might lose touch with our genuine interests and personality. We might start to question who we truly are outside of our online persona.

• Anxiety and Stress: The pressure to maintain a perfect aesthetic can lead to anxiety and stress. We might feel like we're always 'on,' always needing to find the next perfect photo opportunity.

• Unhealthy Comparison: Seeing everyone else's 'perfect' lives and aesthetics can lead to unhealthy comparison and feelings of inadequacy.

Pursuing Authenticity in the Age of Aesthetic Overload

In the face of aesthetic overload, it's important to remember that social media is not real life. The images we see are carefully curated and edited. They don't represent the full, messy, and beautiful reality of people's lives.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to perform your personality, here are some steps you can take:

• Embrace Eclecticism: It's okay to like things that don't fit into a neat aesthetic box. Embrace your eclectic interests and don't be afraid to share them.

• Check in with Yourself: Regularly check in with yourself. Are you posting something because it genuinely brings you joy, or because you feel like you have to?

• Take a Break: If social media is causing you stress or anxiety, don't hesitate to take a break. It's okay to step back and focus on your offline life.

• Seek Authenticity: Instead of trying to fit into an aesthetic, aim for authenticity. Share what you love, even if it doesn't fit the 'perfect' feed.

In conclusion, while the internet and social media can be powerful tools for creativity and self-expression, they can also lead us to perform our personalities, rather than genuinely expressing them. It's crucial to navigate this digital landscape with self-awareness and authenticity, making sure we're using it to enhance our lives, not to define them.