My eyes widened in horror as I heard myself say it out loud. Sure, I’ve chided myself for thinking it before, but I never thought I would say these words in front of other people: “We should totally do it; we’ll get such awesome pictures out of it!”
Our generation has become obsessed with documenting every little detail of our lives, and social media outlets like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram provide platforms to share the moments we capture. For better or worse, young adults are often focused on sharing the best, most appealing angles of our busy lives. Many have pointed out that this obsession with image indicates some deeply-rooted problems within our generation’s values. I definitely believe our desire to showcase our lives under a glossy filter signifies a misplacement of priorities, but I also believe our love of photos has a more positive effect than people give us credit for.
I am the first to admit I spend way too much time on Instagram. I put far too much effort into editing photos and devising the perfect captions. I recognize how utterly ridiculous it is that I occasionally refrain from sharing a picture if it doesn’t fit my “aesthetic.” Yes, sometimes I really didn’t have as much fun at that party as my laughing “candid” makes it seem. And, no, I don’t ever climb Humpback because I actually enjoy hikes that are completely uphill. I suffer through the physical exertion because, in the back of my mind, I know I want a sunrise picture at the top of the mountain.
Does this mean I’m veering into some generational abyss of misdirection, from which there is no return? I don’t necessarily think so.
We might lose our sense of how unimportant photo sharing is in comparison with other aspects of our lives, but I find my use of photos fulfilling in a lot of ways. Posting a photo on Instagram is, for me, often a moment of reflection. The time I take to pick the right filter and to write a worthy caption usually allows me to move away from the other stresses of my day, to really pause and think about how thankful I am for the specific moment that was captured.
Being able to go back and view the moments captured in my photos is a beautiful reminder of how I was feeling at a specific time. It’s important to consider that posting something on social media is not always a mindless plug for likes or attention. Sometimes, it’s a genuine moment of appreciation that someone feels eager to share. And yes, maybe just experiencing these moments of wonder should be enough, but being able to articulate and share how something made you feel is certainly not the worst thing in the world.
Many people believe taking photos removes you from the particular moment you’re experiencing or that the action of taking a picture makes the experience purely about the material (or digital) object that will be gained rather than the intangible memory. I see the value in this perspective, but I can’t help but think about how much having photos enhances our ability to remember the precious events that occur in our lives.
I’ve lost numerous friends and relatives throughout my life, and it is extremely upsetting when I don’t have many pictures with a particular person who has passed away or left my life. We often forget the intricacies of an individual’s features or mannerisms, like the way her face brightened when she laughed or the way his brows furrowed when leaning over a good book. Having photos does not restore every detail of your relationship with someone, but it certainly sparks memories hidden in the corners of your mind.
People often assert that we should just focus on making memories rather than documenting them, but I believe we can keep so much more with us if we establish a balance between living in the present and capturing the experiences we’re thankful for. I’m not trying to say there aren’t problems with our generation’s obsession with sharing, because there certainly are, but I also think the technology we’ve been equipped with can help us deeply reflect on and remember what we cherish.
Mimi’s column runs biweekly Fridays. She can be reached at m.robinson@cavalierdaily.com.
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