A photo opsession

If you scroll down your Facebook or Instagram feeds, all you can see are happy faces and positive memories. Yet, everyone knows about the incredibly fake facade that appear on social media feeds, an overt reinforcement that might have gone a step ahead with celebs now posting happy pictures with their families endlessly. Since taking pictures with loved ones and posting them has become a trend, these picture exude camaraderie, false or otherwise — Sitting at restaurants or favourite locations clicking selfies and posting unfettered messages like #Goodtimewithmom or #Myfamilyismyrock.

And the Kardashian family knows this business inside out as they showcase their whole life for the world!

While there is nothing wrong with occasional happy snapshots, the real meaning of spending quality time with loved ones seems lost in the picture, literally. Why is it important to document every moment of one’s life, we ask. Urmila Chanam, an anthropologist and activist thinks that such behaviour can be a symptom of a larger problem that can manifest into a huge issue. “The manifestation of technology and social media has made many individuals lack awareness of what they have been posting online. Loneliness also manifests into spending their energies on such mindless actions. I have personally seen many couples who post amazing pictures on vacation but when they come back, I hear that it was the time they were actually fighting over something. Also, many couples tend to express themselves through updated statuses to partners rather than actually talking about the issues they are battling. Quality time has ceased to exist, sadly.”

Fashion guru Prasad Bidapa feels that social media is a great way to store family pictures unlike the olden days where family albums stored those memories. “I don’t see posting pictures as something negative. Being obsessive is a bit sad, thinking about how many likes a picture you posted is getting. You can spot such people from a distance, and none of those are on my list. For me, it’s just close family and friends so I don’t mind sharing pictures of family vacation, moments, etc. The tipping point is obsession — if social media starts taking your entire energy then you definitely need help.”

Blogger Pushpa Achanta says, “I’m a writer who doesn’t believe in socialising on social media. I believe technology shouldn’t restrain family and relationships, etc. Though, I do feel that posting pictures online is an individual choice.”