A few years ago, there was an viral blog post encouraging Mom’s to “stay in the picture.” While this is not a something that I have ever really struggled with because I absolutely cherish my family photos. Over weight, under weight, crazy hair – don’t care. I love being in the picture with my family. However, there was one place that I often hid behind my children and that was on social media.
For years, that small square in the corner that represents my social media footprint was filled by my adorable children, flowers, sunshine, sneakers, race bibs and whatever else I used to “represent” my identity. I rarely, if ever, used an actual picture of myself.
After reading the “stay in the picture” blog post, I made the personal decision to no longer let my kids or static images represent me. For a little more than a year, with the exception of just a couple of times, my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts have proudly displayed the actual me. Sometimes it is me with one of my adorable kids or a possibly a fearful group storm troopers but it has and will always be me.
And let me tell you, it changes the way I post. When my face is the one staring back at me, I am more conscious about what I am saying and am more considerate of others. I am true to myself but I have to take ownership of my thoughts and feelings. I take time to think through what I want “the me” to speak out loud about and more importantly what I should keep to myself.
Choosing to be myself in all aspects of my real and digital lives has changed me. Have you ever considered how you might be “different” when you hide behind an image that isn’t your true self?
How do you represent yourself in social media? Are you the actual you? Or do you stay out of the picture?