Social media is often criticized as being a space where expectations for what your life should look like are set high, and expectations for how much room you have to grow are set low. Often, this is a reality that most of us are accustomed to: I barely find myself posting photos on Instagram that aren’t picture-perfect.
However, this past year, I had a realization. Subconsciously I would find myself adopting unhealthy eating patterns or arguing vehemently with people who held opposing views to mine. I realized that it was no coincidence that most of my Instagram feed was filled with either white, thin, blue-eyed, blonde models (who looked nothing like me) or with individuals who misused the purpose of “cancel culture” for their own monetization. I realized that something needed to change.
The unfollowing spree that followed after was the best decision, for my mental health and growth, that I have ever made.
According to a survey done by the Royal Society for Public Health in 2017, Instagram was ranked the most negative in terms of how helpful it was for a young individual’s health and wellbeing. However, it also stated that social media does play a role in our lives and can be a space for people to share their feelings, so it should be seen in a lifestyle integrated and self-managed manner.
One way in which I had been able to adopt a more mindful approach was by simply understanding what kind of a feed was going to be more healing as opposed to damaging for my mental health. So, along with an unfollowing spree I started following more women and individuals who did just that.
Here’s a list of women that I started following and the single post that convinced me to do so. Hopefully it can help you on your own unfollowing journey:
-
Jameela Jamil (@jameelajamilofficial)
-
Jamil is a body activist, mental health advocate and actor who is best known for her role in the award-winning comedy series, The Good Place. She is also the founder of a movement on Instagram (@i_weigh), that focuses on creating a safe and inclusive space for women and LGTBQ+ folks who can educate others on issues such as: fat activism, body acceptance, trans rights, female reproductive rights, mental health illnesses and more! She calls herself a “feminist in progress” and encourages her followers to not be afraid of making mistakes and learning.
- Roza Nozari (@yallaroza)
-
Nozari is a queer Muslim artist of colour who creates pieces that are centered on the theme of radical self-love and acceptance. She creates an inclusive space where she encourages all of her followers to look deeper within and find the peace that they are deserving of.
- Noor Tagouri (@noor)
-
Tagouri is a Libyan American journalist, model, activist and founder of “At Your Service” (@AYS). She uses her platforms to encourage open dialogue about issues such as mental health, Black Lives Matter activism, modest fashion, and much more! She is a unique individual who combines compassion and rebellion in her practice of activism.
- Maria Qamar (@hatecopy)
-
Qamar is a Pakistani Canadian artist and author who creates content catered towards the experiences of young first-generation South Asian women. She instills humour in her feminist, pop-art pieces that explore what it is like for women to navigate in a patriarchal world.
- Nabela Noor (@nabela)
-
Noor is a first-generation Bangladeshi American content creator, entrepreneur and founder of “the self-love revolution” platform Zeba (@zeba) and non-profit organization, Noor House (@noorhouse) providing education to underprivileged children in Bangladesh. As a plus-sized woman of colour she encourages women to embrace the bodies that they were born in regardless of the standard that has been set on various social media platforms.
-
Angelica Lindsey-Ali (@villageauntie)
-
Lindsey-Ali is a Muslim sex educator who uses Islam, West and East African practices of sex and intimacy to educate women about their bodies and the concept of pleasure. She is one of the few women in this field of work who debunks myths surrounding the idea of female pleasure being sinful for Muslim women. She also facilitates workshops catered specifically for the needs and wants of these women.