Positivity by Design Digital Tattoo: A Reflection on My Social Media Presence
Taking a step back to really look at my social media, one theme stands out immediately: positivity. My feed is filled with moments of joy. Photos of my children’s activities and awards, family pictures, snapshots of beautiful landscapes from traveling, the occasional silly wholesome memes, inspirational quotes, and even references to my faith. At first glance, it paints a picture of a life that is full, meaningful, and consistently uplifting.
But when I think more deeply about it, I realize that while my posts are real, they are not my whole reality and this is by my design.
A large portion of my content centers on my children's accomplishments, milestones, and everyday joys. Whether it’s posting about an award ceremony, a school event, sports, silly quotes, or a proud parenting moment, these posts reflect what matters most to me, which is my family. According to research like the Pew Research study on social media use, this is very common. People tend to share content that highlights identity, values, and pride. For me, that identity is strongly tied to being a parent and wife.
Alongside that, I often share family pictures and pictures of the landscapes when I travel. These images capture moments of connection with the scenery around me. These posts help preserve memories, but they also present a polished version of my life so my extended family has a connection to our lives. Most pictures do not include me, but if I do appeal, it is not polished with filters. You don’t see the stress swirling in my reality or the difficult moments that happen off-camera. This aligns with what Texas Tech University emphasizes in their article, " When it Feels Like Everyone Has Their Life Together: Why Social Media Isn't Reflective of Reality", social media is often a “highlight reel,” not a full documentary of someone’s life.
type memes often reflect my attempts to be lighthearted for my friends who I know struggle like me. The inspirational quotes show what motivates me or helps me stay grounded. These types of posts may actually be some of the most honest moments for me online, even though they are still curated. They give insight into my inner world, but in a way that feels safe and shareable. However, a psychologist would recognize the undertones of self-motivation.
My references to the Latin Mass, pictures of my sons serving both forms of the mass, the children in their catholic school uniforms, and catholic churches visited on my trips are another important layer. They reflect my spiritual beliefs and values, which are a core part of who I am. Sharing these moments or thoughts publicly shows that my faith is not something I keep private. At the same time, I’m still selective about how much I share on my actual politics and faith belief, which again highlights that balance between authenticity and curation.
When I compare my first 25 posts to my most recent ones, I can see a clear shift. Early on, my posts were more spontaneous and less oriented towards family life. Short updates, random thoughts, more selfies, and the social environment of a college student. Over time, my content has become more intentional with a neutrality suitable for a professional. This reflects a level of digital awareness that develops with experience.
There’s also a noticeable difference in tone depending on the platform. Up to this point, I have focused on my Facebook used for my personal life. My tone is more personal and family-centered knowing my family and friends will view it. When I post on different platforms, I adjust my tone to match the audience. I still have a casual, visual post, but the posts are public and more professional. This supports the idea from various sources that people present different versions of themselves depending on where they are online.
Overall, my social media does reflect who I am, but it reflects a carefully curated version of me. It highlights my role as a parent, my appreciation for meaningful moments, my sense of humor, and my faith. However, it leaves out the struggles, the stress, everyday challenges that are just as real and daily. In the end, my posts are genuine in showing the best parts of my life, just not the full story. And that realization is important, not just for how I see myself, but for how I view others online as well. I understand that the curated versions of others are not the full stories, and I shutter when I see unfiltered versions of people.
I definitely agree with our social media posts being a reflection or a curated representation of our likes and personalities. I hardly see negative posts from non-influencer accounts I follow, and I think it's simply because people don't really like bringing attention to negative happenings on social media unless it's asking for advice or help. I also show different sides of me on different social medias, like being more personal when I used to post on Facebook vs. now curating a more careful feed for Instagram.
ReplyDeleteHi Brittney! Your positivity brand radiated through your blog post. I found myself smiling through so much of it! I had a similar experience with my social media data anyalsis. I've had a hard time claiming my identity up until recent years, so it was cool to see how it came through even before I would have known how to verbalize it. Thanks for sharing parts of yourself with us!
ReplyDeleteHi Brittney, when you mentioned that "most pictures do not include me," I totally relate. That really is such a mom thing; we're usually the ones behind the camera, making sure everyone else's moments are captured. Even though I wish I were in more photos, I wouldn't have it any other way because of how meaningful those memories are. My kids are almost 1 and 2, and I already find myself going back through photos thinking, "How did they grow this fast?" Capturing those moments feels so important, even if we’re not always in the frame.
ReplyDeleteYour mention of social media being a “highlight reel” really stood out to me, too. It’s something I know, but still have to remind myself of, especially when I catch myself comparing my life to what I see online. I like how you reframed your posts, not as being fake, but as being selective. That feels like a much more accurate and fair way to describe how most of us use social media.