Oversharing vs. Authenticity

Hello lovelies, long time no blog post. Somehow, we made it to half way through August without a peep from me.Between weekends away in Brighton, touring my friend around London, running my second ever giveaway and hustle and flow of city life, from dinner dates to tube breakdowns, it’s been a while since I gave you a life update. Further I’ve been reflecting more on the divide between Instagram and reality. My recent captions on the gram have gotten chattier, as I tell you about my day or share something I think is particularly clever or beautiful. You babes seem to enjoy it, with comments responding to my nattering but I wonder how much is TMI?

I like to think of myself as authentic, especially as the idea of putting on a public mask sounds too exhausting for words. But then does being authentic mean telling you about the singularly average porridge I had for dinner because I couldn’t be arsed to walk 10 minutes to the shops? Does it mean sharing the soul cringing DM I received last week, with a proposition from a no joke sugar daddy? Does it mean live chatting from a Zara fitting room, where the utter mystery of their denim sizing system has reduced me to angry tears?

There’s something cathartic about sharing these experiences on social media. It’s like a large scale version of ringing up your best friend and saying, “Oh my god you would NOT believe what just happened”. On the other hand, there are things I don’t have a particular desire to share. I may post a cute pic of latte art on Instagram stories, but the following catch up with a friend is firmly in the private sphere for me. As are the double chin, silly faced snapchats I send my sisters.

Authenticity has become something of a buzzword in the influencer industry. Audiences crave those relatable moments that create personal connection in amongst the glamourous aspiration of travel, fashion and lifestyle blogging. But then surely there’s going too far and oversharing. I don’t know about you, but I could have gone all my life without knowing some of the things people put on social media. Not to mention trying too hard to create a ‘real’ persona very quickly becomes contrived. Honestly how many times can one person post about cheat day meals? And for each caption talking about accidentally flashing someone in this super cute outfit, how many times has that actually happened? Look at me I’m so funny and #relatable! Babe, there’s a point where it rings hollow and false.

In my head I have a mental crossroads of authenticity vs. oversharing. On one side is the paramount question “Am I okay with this being potentially seen by many many strangers”. Say it with me guys, the internet is forever. Further, is this something my audience is keen for? The last thing I or any blogger worth their salt wants is to overstep into No Filter Facebook Friend ™. You know, the one who waxes on about the most boring things on earth (including but not limited to: fertilizing the garden, bulk buying Cheetos and the boil on the distant relative’s derrière). Thankfully you lovelies seem to share my candle obsession, my enthusiasm for pretty cafes and my utter love for all the dogs I see on Hampstead Heath. Then again, I suppose you wouldn’t be watching or reading if you didn’t like these things too. All I can do is promise to share that which I sincerely believe you will enjoy, and that I will never ever ever talk about boils on anyone’s butt.

Xx

Featuring photography shot by Kaye Ford @Fordtography

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