social media
Real love is quiet — and doesn’t need silly hashtags
© #sohappyrightnow / Photo: Getty Images
Hashtag here, hashtag there. In the age of social media, people are sharing more and more about their private lives. Our author finds most of it totally exaggerated – and is annoyed.
by Diana Huth
Hardly a day goes by when I don’t meet someone who poses in front of their cell phone and then lets their followers celebrate them. A quick photo, or a 30-minute back and forth with change of position, cosmetic correction, of course from ten different angles. Then the drama of post-production begins. No filter really fits. The individual settings are constantly being tweaked, and in the end something isn’t perfect.
#Hashtag #MyLifeInHashtags
It doesn’t matter, #perfectimperfection and #effortlesslyselfie are posted anyway or because of it. And of course #ForMoreRealityOnInstagram – no, that’s for sure. In times of slow sex, idleness and deceleration, I wonder why we can’t just experience moments instead of recording them. Because mostly it is the case that exactly these recordings (and all the posing and posting) destroy the actually beautiful moment.
Love in times of social media – Love 2.0
I find couples most impressive on Instagram. From zero to #loveofmylife in three posts, or even a week. And then everything is really shared: in the bathroom, on the couch, on a walk, a kiss over a meal together, in the disco and of course when you wake up and have breakfast in bed. Of course, if you’re newly in love, you don’t do anything other than being together.
But what I just can’t understand is why you have to share this publicly with the whole world. Isn’t love something totally private? Something I want to protect? Someone said to me the other day “True Love Is Silent”, I think that is great. For me, love rarely expresses itself in the really big gestures. Above all, she shows herself in difficult times and not on Instagram. Especially not in hashtags.
No matter how authentic a motif is, as soon as a hashtag is used, it is always a staging. Anyone who uses a hashtag wants to be found – and liked, yes, loved. Obviously #reallove isn’t enough after all.
You’re great the way you are, you don’t need a like for that
Of course, the cry for confirmation also works as a single, especially then. I really hate profiles that only consist of selfies. Either someone is narcissistic or insecure, or even both. Depending on the staging, I then either feel the impulse to block the person – or to hug them.
Or am I just jealous?
Sometimes I wonder why these staged images upset me so much. Sure, when I’m feeling lonely, there are moments when I wish someone would photograph me as my #favorite person. Although – actually not. Actually, I want to be someone’s favorite person and enjoy every moment to the fullest. I don’t need a show of love or confirmation that I’m a great catch or have made one.
Nothing against a couple picture – I’ve already posted it myself – but please no “love story” as a permanent feature. And please, please protect your children’s privacy. They can’t fight back!