The word ‘Finsta’ is derived from the words ‘Fake’ and ‘Instagram’, wherein people create multiple accounts besides the main one. These are accounts where people post real thoughts, unfiltered content, silly pictures, and feelings that they can’t otherwise share on their main page. The fact is that people can be ‘real’ in a world where ‘pretending’ is the new normal while using their other account. Ever seen an account with no profile photo, no posts, and a weird name, but regularly sharing content via Instagram Stories? That’s a Finsta!
Finstas feel like a safe place where nobody judges you… Or in Instagram’s language, nobody unfollows you when you are honest about your opinion. Let’s try to understand why Finsta is trending, what its consequences are, and what the road ahead holds.
Escaping Perfection and Building Close Connections
Chasing perfection is a human tendency. We all want to be perfect, or at least pretend to be perfect, so that people get impressed. People post photos with beaming smiles, cheerful laughs, motivational captions, and much more to get as many likes and comments as possible. You see people touring the world, enjoying life like they had never gone through a sad period. But the reality behind these filters is just overwhelming.
This constant pressure of appearing perfect is exhausting, and to escape it, or take a break for the moment, the concept of Finsta took birth. A second account where you can enjoy being yourself sounds fun, right? That’s exactly how the seeds for this new revolution were sown a few years ago. If you recall, you might have heard a few people around you saying they had a second or third account a few years back. One user described it like this: “My main account feels like a magazine. My finsta feels like a diary.” This difference matters. Your main page is like make-up with which you try to impress the world, but your finsta is where you spend time being real, which is what ultimately gives the human mind peace. Come on, how long can you keep the show running? Everybody needs a break!
And the cherry on the cake was the COVID-19 pandemic (metaphorically!). The depressing and gloomy atmosphere that surrounded the world forced people to use Finstas even more. With the world feeling uncertain, with predictions being made for humanity’s complete wipeout (yeah, there were some!), these accounts became safe areas to share feelings and stay connected with loved ones without the world judging you to be weak.
You may have thousands of followers on Instagram, but how many do you think know you and will support you if you post something personal and unfiltered? Few. That’s where Finstas help. A Finsta is like a family-type space where you can share everything with zero hesitation without the outside world interfering. In a world where emotions are often hidden behind filters, Finstas offer a place to be raw as a carrot and honest as a sunrise, no longer trying to impress!
Finsta as a Way of Self-Discovery
Finsta is a place where you can be… just you! No algorithm to disrupt your feed and no stranger typing a bad comment. Finstas act as quiet digital spaces where people can ponder who they are and explore their passions. Some post poetry, some share late-night thoughts, some share what they dreamt lately, some share confessions, some share unfinished stories of their life—and the list just goes on! This process is called identity exploration. It’s a messy way of realising your life’s meaning. One user even opined, “My finsta knows me better than I do.”
Risks and Unintended Consequences
Finstas may be safe, but nothing is risk-free in this world! Finstas are also being used for cyberbullying. You heard that right. Some users hide behind fake accounts to troll and gossip, thinking they won’t be held accountable. Imagine finding a like or comment from a Finsta on all your posts, and then he/she pop up in your inbox. Terrifying indeed! And with no information on that profile’s home page, you are left in anxiety as to who this can be.
Besides, there’s a danger of oversharing. After all, you are still posting something in the public domain, and if you don’t limit your thoughts, you never know when a screenshot of your content is shared, leaked, and used against you. Some users even post controversial, risky, and inappropriate content, which is left as digital footprints. One viral screenshot can damage reputations, relationships, or even careers!
Also, maintaining multiple accounts is a headache of its own. Imagine handling multiple credit cards or identity cards in one hand. Maintaining Finstas feels similar. Someday you might accidentally share something on your main page—who knows? Someday you might even forget the password to your Finstas (not joking).
Finstas offer freedom, but it comes with responsibility. They are not bulletproof entirely (in fact, even bulletproof vests aren’t 100% bulletproof)!
Looking Ahead
Finstas started as a quiet way of self-introspection and rebellion against the need to impress everyone, but they might be shaping the future of social media. On one hand, we want to reach a larger audience and leave our impact; on the other, we want to maintain our privacy. Some experts believe we are heading toward a ‘multi-layered identity’ model, wherein we may have different profiles for different moods and audiences. For example, an account where you just rant, another where you cry, another where you share memes, and so on. Similarly, one where you post poems, one where you talk about finance, and yet another where you talk about sports! That’s all about Finstas!