Snapchat, Instagram, and Beauty

I can’t claim to be immune to every fad or pretend that I don’t partake of anything that decimates attention spans (my freshman summer involved watching every episode of Lost AND Breaking Bad…).  But Snapchat and Instagram exacerbate and exemplify so many problems of our society.

Instagram has dulled our capacity for experiencing things.  Instead of actually experiencing beauty in the world, we take pictures of it.  Pictures can help us remember memories, but too often pictures instead take the place of memories.  More time is spent snapping photos than is spent actually experiencing the objects of our gaze.  Obviously Instagram is not solely to blame for this, but it certainly hasn’t helped.

Instagram has also hindered our idea of art.  The ability to apply filters to a picture is considered “artsy,” but it is diametrically opposed to true art.  Art explores themes with creativity.  Choosing from a finite set of filters requires no originality and destroys any attempts to think outside of the box.  In this way Instagram actually does a disservice to art.  It is also emblematic of a societal urge to be “artsy.”  Most of the time, these efforts seem forced and unoriginal.  In the process, many actually hinder true art.

Snapchat epitomizes our throwaway culture.  Even Instagram can allow us to capture memories, but Snapchat signals to people that they only need a 10 second attention span.  While the permanence of texts and anything you write on the Internet fosters some level of accountability, Snapchat encourages people to let loose.  The pictures will be automatically deleted, so who cares what I send?  This attitude has led to rampant sexting through Snapchat, which perpetuates our culture of one-night stands and meaningless relationships.

Snapchat and Instagram have exacerbated our society’s disregard for things that last.  A picture can reflect beauty, but its scope remains limited because it conveys a single moment in time.  It is easy to see the potential error in this.  For a simple example, I may be having a lovely time walking in the park, but if you snap a picture when my face conveys a brief moment of anguish, the picture will show an inaccurate account of my walk.  Pictures cannot even fully capture single moments, let alone the beauty of a lifelong friendship.

Next time you see something beautiful, resist the urge to pull out your smartphone.  Give beauty a chance to stand on its own.