Instagram influencer speaks out after mental health struggles
A former influencer has blown the lid on the “fake” world of Instagram, saying most influencers she knows are struggling to make ends meet in real life - especially since COVID-19.
Confidential
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Nearly one year after Instagram began removing “like” counts, one influencer says the initiative has done little to help mental health.
Sydney content creator Laura Albertin, 32, told Confidential that social media has triggered her anxiety and claims being an influencer is not as glamorous as it seems.
“Hiding likes hasn’t really helped because you just focus on something else like follower count, or how many comments you get, or the perfect photo,” Albertin said.
“Yes, it has taken a bit of pressure off but they haven’t hidden the likes completely, you can still go on Safari and see how many likes a photo got.”
Albertin, who boasts 170,000 followers, began as an influencer six years ago but now works as a recruitment specialist full-time. She says not being an authentic influencer when she first started out affected her mental health and that she’s not alone.
She claims most influencers that she knows are struggling to make ends meet in real life, particularly after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet they portray very different lifestyles on social media.
“It is not real. Instagram is what you choose to show people. So many of them make out like it’s this glamorous life but that’s not really what it’s like,” she said.
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“A lot of them have regular 9-5 jobs but don’t let anyone know that because it’s all about what looks good on the ‘gram’.”
Albertin, who is launching The Naked Mind to help those suffering from anxiety, said common causes of anxiety and depression among influencers include the never ending pursuit of the “perfect” photos and constantly searching for validation from complete strangers.
“Half of them suffer mental health issues, especially around Fashion Week. That’s probably the worst breeding ground for anxiety,” she said.
“If you’re not sitting in front row then you get looked at funny. I’ve overheard people whinge to the PR people about not being in the front row. Who cares where you sit?
“Also, many of them worry about not being verified. It doesn’t make you any better than anyone else if you have the blue tick or not.”
Meanwhile, reality TV star-turned-influencer Margarita Smith says removing likes on Instagram has been great because it’s made the process of posting photos less stressful.
“I think it’s been a really good thing. For young people who are heavily influenced by ‘likes’ in the world we live in, I’m sure Instagram has taken away a lot of the stress that used to come with posting pictures,” Smith said.
“As for people such as myself who use Instagram as a platform to grow and work with other companies, it’s as simple as taking a screenshot of our insights to show them what our views/likes and comments consist of. So all round, I don’t see any negatives to their decision to remove the likes being displayed!”
Dr Maria Scoda, a clinical psychologist, said it’s important that social media is used responsibly.
“Social media may have a negative effect on self-esteem for some people if they focus on how many likes they are getting or not getting,” Scoda said.
“It can also be unhelpful if they compare themselves and their lives to how other people look or portray themselves on social media posts. This can contribute to people having a negative self image or not feeling good enough, which can impact on mood and mental health.”
A spokesman for Facebook, which also owns Instagram, said overall the decision to remove likes has been met with positive responses.
“We launched this test to remove the pressure of how many likes an Instagram post will receive, so you can focus less on likes and more on sharing your story comfortably and authentically,” he said.
“We’re excited by results so far from testing, but there’s still more we want to learn when it comes to how this update impacts your Instagram experience.
“We work with mental health experts including ReachOut, The Butterfly Foundation, and headspace, to create tools and resources for the wellbeing of our Australian community. We have a range of features to protect your safety and privacy, and we’re committed to developing more ways to ensure Instagram is the safest and kindest platform.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, call Lifeline 13 11 14