You probably know them. Mothers who brag about their children's achievements. That starts early, when you are waiting at the playgroup or the daycare. ”Is yours not running yet? Klaasje was already walking at 9 months. So clumsy dude!” At school you hear unsolicited that Roosje has long since finished kindergarten and that Suus has been asked to join the dance school's selection class. One fantastic sporting achievement after another passes on Facebook. Online bragging rights. And I am happy to participate in that too.
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The Sire campaign 'who are you doing it for' makes me think. All those happy, perfect photos on Facebook, Instagram, why am I doing that? I previously wrote a blog about my perfect facebook life. In the meantime, I have happily continued to express myself on social media. When it comes to my children, I am hesitant. I share nice moments, but I don't let the tantrums go on the internet. This way you don't really get a realistic picture of my life, but you only see the perfect picture.
The creators of the Sire campaign 'Who are you doing it for' have their doubts about this. That perfect life, right? The Good Life Agency was introduced in mid-December. An image agency that provides services to make 'ordinary' people appear(more) successful. You could buy likes at this agency, make your child seem more successful, but also have your picture taken with a celebrity.
Of course, it turned out that this desk didn't really exist, but it was an experiment by Sire. It generated a lot of media attention. The website of The Good Life Agency attracted more than 100,000 visitors and 170 people actually registered for the status-enhancing services. Not bad for a fake image agency.
Prior to the experiment, SIRE had research carried out, which shows that 63 percent of the Dutch estimate that people make their lives look nicer than it actually is. Only 16 percent admit to doing this themselves.
It's like those mothers who brag in the schoolyard. You don't do that yourself. Or is it?
It's bothering me. My life is not perfect, far from it. I am happy with what I have and I show it proudly. I don't know if my facebook friends are all waiting for that. But it's like watching TV, if you don't like it, don't you zap away?
Posting a photo on Facebook of my child with a swimming diploma (don't worry, not in a bikini but with a bathrobe or the clothes already on) I do just like so many other mothers because I'm just proud. And happy. Nothing wrong with it. So to answer Sire's question, who I'm doing this for:not for the online bragging rights, but for myself and family who can't make it to the swim, but do want to share in the festivities.
Still, I want to be more aware of what I share via social media. Thinking about why I want to share that perfect picture so much. Who am I doing that for? That photo of baking cookies with my kids on Facebook, am I doing that to show that I'm such a fun mom? And all the holiday photos, shouldn't I just enjoy the sunset on the beach instead of busy with my phone? “Darling to the left for a moment. Just put an arm around your brother. No, don't hit!” Can you see it?
Everything has to be perfect these days. A good job, busy social life and children doing well in school. Preferably with impressive hobbies, because that makes online bragging a lot easier. And we show that more or less perfect life to everyone. I get so sick of that sometimes! I'm afraid I'm so busy showing how happy I am that I completely forget to be happy.
I wonder how others do that. Or would their lives match the perfect picture presented to me on Facebook and Instagram? Probably not.
