Opening the Instagram app and switching between a main and spam account? It’s like leading a double life. Two social media feeds meant to be reflections of my online identity — except they are completely opposite representations.
A main page is typically curated for a main audience of viewers to fit a certain aesthetic, such as a visually appealing photo grid, while a spam is limited to close friends, meant to be unfiltered and a place to “dump” content of random or even funny moments.
Before, having a spam account felt like a breath of fresh air, an escape from maintaining a put-together digital presence. However, instead of people sharing the imperfect, spam accounts have become an extension of organized aesthetics. It makes me feel less obliged to share genuine moments since nobody else really is — despite it being the original purpose of a spam account.
I completely agree with watching what you post and the details you share online. But seriously, the meaning of a spam account has become lost in translation. Why have one if you are going to act the same as you would on your main?
A spam account is not meant to be organized, but low-effort and a place to be authentic. The fact we create spams is potentially the real issue. Why do we care so much about how people perceive us on social media that we create these accounts to separate digital identities?
If you are worried that your next spam post won’t match your feed or someone might judge you for being niche, maybe you’re in the wrong crowd. Social media has become a mask: anyone can appear completely different online than how they really act in person. We need to break away from the pressure of fitting into unattainable standards and instead embrace transparency, because life isn’t perfect. Nobody will remember whether your grid was perfectly curated, so instead of hyperfocusing on every social media move, worry about how you treat others.
