Finstas
Scrolling through Instagram, it is likely you’ve been suggested a private account with limited followers promoted to you as “Someone you might know.” Accompanied by images and bios representative of one's more intimate ideals, it lures us in. Being approved as a “follower” within these spaces is equivalent to being handed a VIP pass to one's artistic hideaway.
In a culture where our digital gratification is derived from polished feeds and performative aesthetics, the “finsta” (fake Instagram) offers a sanctuary for unfiltered expression. Our follower count takes a backseat, and instead, the freedom to post the mundane prevails.
“Finsta” is a colloquial term referring to a secondary, more private Instagram account where one can reveal their authentic self instead of a crafted public persona. The finsta is a counterattack to the perfectly curated and unattainable microcelebrity who haunts your timeline. Manufacturing a space for the raw and authentic personal content that diminishes your phone storage.
From a simple selfie to the Chipotle you ate for dinner last night, all images are invited for bestowal on the finsta’s main stage. It all depends on the curator's preference for their own digital reality. The lack of fabrication propels the appeal of a finsta, allowing a space separated from perceived judgments from those outside of our inner circle. Eradicating the etiquette we adhere to our main accounts and sanctioning a new creative outlet.
Why do we yearn for protective, creative outlets? Our brains are taught to crave algorithmic validation through the eyes of another. Endlessly drafting posts out of anxiety over making a faux pas on your main account often stems from anticipating how others will react. With a finsta, we are permitted a channel detached from our habitual notions of others' judgements. Where only those you deem worthy can contribute to the conversation. Allowing the user a cathartic relief not often available in digital spaces.
There are no rules to cling to within the confines of a finsta. You are free to post an experimental outfit, thirst over your celebrity crush, or share something no one else will understand. All are protected under privacy, in your personal, creative, safe haven.
Strike Out,
Emma Chambers
Writer and Brand Ambassador
Strike Magazine Chattanooga