Picture this: While finishing my multiple-hour-long TikTok scroll of the day, I am drowning in feelings of futility. Naturally, I close TikTok and transition immediately to Instagram for a change of scenery. In the land of Instagram, I am presented with slower-paced media that is much more enjoyable for leisurely digestion. Nestled between posts about Punch-kun the monkey, the best looks from the Vanity Fair Oscar party and copious meme pages, is one of Dua Lipa’s notorious photo dumps. As I swipe through the 20 snapshots of her busy life, I am welcomed into her world. Though, at first glance, it doesn’t look much different from the standard photo dump of a friend, there is a unique appeal to this “lazy” posting style coming from the pop star. Her posts hold no common theme, just elements of regular life that the average person might photograph: skincare, friends, good food, romantic partners and fun outfits. Despite the normalcy, there’s something infatuating about the apparent lack of effort.
Approaching my seventh year as an Instagram user, I am familiar with the science that is an Instagram photo dump: A collection of at least half a dozen photos, varying in subject and theme, are all able to come together and evoke an aesthetic unique to the moments captured. But the ultimate goal of these types of posts is to market oneself as effortlessly as possible — a task that ironically requires hefty amounts of effort.
As recent trends have shifted into prioritizing wellness, unedited natural photos and neutrals, celebrities are urging their audiences to subconsciously follow suit. Artists, actors, influencers and commercial personalities are pushing out extensive photo dumps on their Instagram pages to commemorate their week, latest trip or a “here’s what you missed” post. All of the mundane aspects of life — squeezing out the last dab of toothpaste, picking off the last speck of nail polish or walking the dog — were previously moments reserved for the private eye. This trending style of posting, especially from prominent figures, increases their relatability. By allowing followers and the general public easy access to “intimate” moments, fabricated or not, the line between work and home begins to fade.
The social media profiles of these largely famous individuals are overanalyzed and poured over by fans daily, and normalizing the practice of documenting every aspect of one’s day for the purpose of receiving likes and comments crushes privacy. But, viewers being able to connect to a well-known and famous figure also makes their content more appealing. In traditional media, those in the spotlight protect their image and increase their mystique through privacy and secrecy. But, the seemingly effortless method of photo dumping paints a more authentic influence for audiences.
There is an ulterior motive to this style of “simplistic” social media posting. For what reason do global celebrities, emerging from highly private lives, feel compelled to share such small moments with their target audiences? In Lipa’s post, her carousel displays a selfie with products from DUA, her up-and-coming skincare line. Lipa was able to drive up speculation and interest for her products with a single blurry selfie. Later in the post lies a photo of Lipa situated on the floor of a studio with her guitar, flagging potential new music to fans without saying, or in this case, typing, a word. Many conclusions can be drawn from the details of what some may interpret as meaningless photos from public figures. Though coming off as a hodgepodge of “camera roll crumbs,” celebrities deliberately choose each and every image that comes across our screens.
Social media is an ever-changing experience. Fresh jokes and trends are posted every day, spreading to every corner of the internet in minutes. What is viral this week will be dead by the next, and what used to be a distilled space for celebrity photo shoots and premier brand advertisements has transitioned to a universally causal hub of endless accessibility. Still, Instagram hasn’t transformed into a level playing ground: Influencers continue to influence. In online spaces dominated by trends rather than personal creativity, I encourage you to acknowledge your own habits. Though a difficult task in our easily influenced society, avoid shallow trends that constrict creative experimentation. Celebrities are major deciders in the cyclical movement of social media trends, and by putting their own flair on the ole faithful Instagram photo dump, our favorite internet personalities are telling stories much deeper than meets the eye.
Daily Arts Contributor Tess Tillman can be reached at tesstill@umich.edu.
