LaurDIY, Peyton List and More Open Up About Social Media Pressure

Feeling a lot of pressure to look or act a certain way because of social media? Well, you’re not alone. There are actually several celebrities who feel pressure like this on a daily basis, but with hundreds of other responsibilities on their plate, they’ve become experts at managing it all.

So what’s the trick? Well, there are several, but the most important thing to remember is that the life people showcase on social media isn’t much like reality at all. Yep! So next time you’re feeling down because everyone else seems to be living their best lives, remember that they’re showing you a single moment in time, and that they have bad days too.

Another important thing to remember about social media is that you can really do no wrong as long as you’re being your authentic self. While there are definitely some celebrities who fake it ’til they make it on Instagram, there are also a ton of others who keep it so real. That said, we got to speak with some of our all-time faves about how they deal with the pressure, so scroll through the gallery for some helpful tips.

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Niki and Gabi DeMartino

“There were cringey moments where I would look at what other YouTubers were doing and I tried to join. And I realized I wasn’t being myself. Now looking back at those videos, it is so hard. I almost want to delete them. It’s cringey,” Niki told us. “I just feel like, if you’re not proud of something, that’s a huge red flag. If you’re not excited to show somebody and you’re not proud of it, then you’re not doing what you want to do,”

As for how to handle it when things get to be too much, the YouTuber suggested, “Turn off your phone.”

“My phone broke four days ago, and I was pissed at first. But that morning waking up without a phone, it was a great day. I was in the best mood,” she shared. “I didn’t realize the weight being connected gives you… It’s just peace of mind when you turn it off.”

Her sister, Gabi, admitted that she almost forced herself to change because of the pressures of social media.

“I caught myself kind of ditching my whole pink thing and trying to be like every other lifestyle influencer who travels and wears bikinis in every pic. I caught myself real quick. That wasn’t organic to me or what I like to do. I was just trying to be what everyone else liked in other people. Then I quickly realized, you should be doing what makes you happy,” Gabi explained. “Don’t read comments. Or maybe turn off your comments because I feel like comments shouldn’t matter. Only your opinion should matter.”

Joshua Rush

“The pressure can be really bad, I won’t lie! There’s a lot of pressure to not be yourself, to be some perfect ‘influencer’ type that people often want you to be, and I love taking cool pictures of myself as much as the next guy, but more than anything else, I love being myself, and if that self is going be the nerdy Capitol Hill intern obsessed with politics, then so be it!”

Jackie R. Jacobson

“As a 17-year-old girl, the pressure of social media can really get to you. There have been times where I didn’t get a role because I didn’t have enough followers on Instagram. As an actress, your image and who you portray yourself as is everything — and it’s extremely hard always being judged and always looked at. I think the best way I have learned to deal with it is to understand that everyone has their own opinion, and that’s totally fine — and to realize that not everything on Instagram is real. So I say, ‘Post, wear and look what makes you feel the best and most confident!'”

Ajiona Alexus

“I can definitely see and understand why some people feel pressured at times. We live in a world now, where everything is so fabricated and people feel compelled project their opinions onto others through social media. The way I cope with this type of pressure is staying true to who I am and relying on my family who has always been a great support system.”

Peyton List

“I’ve definitely withheld social posts out of fear of judgement or embarrassment in the past. There is definitely pressure to present your best self on social media, but I also genuinely love taking photographs and sharing them with the people I love. I think being unique and sharing photos that don’t look like the rest of posts on my feed is how I try to stand out amongst the crowd on social platforms.”

Brent Rivera

“People are always trying to be perceived a certain way on social media and our generation experiences a lot of anxiety and confidence issues that stems from it. I’ve definitely felt the pressure of social media in the past, but I’ve realized that I can only control so much and can’t focus my attention the negative.”

LaurDIY

“It’s definitely so tempting to use apps like FaceTune and photoshop and stuff to perfect yourself, but I think it’s just realizing that everyone’s Instagram is a highlight reel of what their life is like, and it’s not their real life, you know? … I’m a straight up potato, you know? In pajamas and stuff. I think everyone can relate to that. It’s just realizing that everyone behind their perfect selfie is totally normal and has breakouts and bad days and bad hair days.”