Just The Rudest Thing You Can Do On Instagram

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+ location: White Hotel 1921 in St. Tropez

Pre-Instagram I was basically an Instagrammer- like in real life.

Let me explain.

Picture me driving around the Whole Foods Parking Lot, maybe it’s like 2009-ish. I see a pretty, cool looking girl carrying a BADASS, big cross-body camo bag. There she is with her uber high ponytail, bouncing around after sculpt hot yoga balancing a green juice & an iced cinnamon coffee rocking white Nikes ( I can immediately tag those in my mind because well…the logo is so recognizable ). Her whole #OOTD is for sure Lululemon– you can tell you know? Like it’s just another one of those brands you can spot, no problem. Now the sunglasses are CLEARLY Ray Bans- another brand that’s super recognizable. Those polarized aviators are iconic. The situation is feeling complete because now I know where she got her sneakers, top, bottom, & sunglasses…HOWEVER, LIKE HOW-FUCKING-EVER, what on God’s earth is her bag? I RACK MY BRAIN FOR MONTHS- I LOOK EVERYWHERE IN STORES- this is sort of pre-online everything. I search Nordstrom, Forever 21, Abercrombie ( VINTAGE! ), you get it. I can’t find it ANYWHERE. It’s kind of the most frustrating thing in the world- not being able to find something you see that you know you NEED.

For months it was like PLEASE OH PLEASE where did this random yoga chick get this cross-body camo bag that is just the perfectly-sized bag which I don’t think I can live without. My brain spins: “Wow it would look so cute with my new off the shoulder black top & skinny jeans.” “Or even I could use it for travel- I can picture myself casually hoping on the plane to Las Vegas, feeling chic in cameo.” “It’s SO ME, I need it…NOW.”

So basically, my brain looks over the situation & ‘TAGS’ her in real life.

Again, pre-Instagram. Stone age days really.

CUE to 2010 WHEN INSTAGRAM launches. And then!!! Then YOU GUYS!!! Instagram released this thing called TAGGING. Have you heard of it? Yes, I know, I know- I’m sure you have. We all have but here’s the thing: there appears to be this epidemic that we’ve got going on. Well it’s not just something I’m seeing, I feel like it’s something a lot of people are seeing. Something that I feel like I need to talk about. It’s honestly the rudest thing on Instagram these days.

Because it hurts you know, when an influencer, celebrity, or really anyone wears a very cute outfit & doesn’t tag. Actually, hold up- I can understand sometimes people don’t tag ( sometimes I don’t tag, but always, ALWAYS answer questions! ) BUTTTTT for the love of God, if there’s 234 comments in the comment section asking you where something is from, please answer! Especially if you’re answering other comments- answer outfit questions. Us, girls need to know. It’s like a thing.

( …I can’t with the tag where’s there’s 45 tags on top of each other so you can’t see either ).

People are voyeurs. We want to know things: what’s that ketchup brand? Why are you mixing chile flakes in it? What products do you use in the shower? Do you like Summer’s Eve? Who’s your favorite hair stylist? What’s in your ice coffee? Which filter do you use on Instagram? What calendar App is that? Why is your skin glowy? Botox or a new skin care routine? What shirt, skirt, headband, nail polish, sneaker, necklace, etc is that?

LIKE GREAT #OOTD POST WITH THE SUNGLASSES EMOJI, BUT WHERE CAN I GET THOSE LOAFERS? 

QUESTIONS! They’re real on social media- people say people are glued to their phones & less social. I would beg to differ. People are given the opportunity to get SUPER social with people all over the world. Now we can find the outfits we’re looking for- not fake versions, the real versions because of Instagram. So if you’re going to get social, get social & SHARE. Thoughts?

I mean I would argue that word of mouth, in the digital space is stronger than ever.

People just like recommendations from other people. They always have, they always will. Advertising is great & all- but hearing a recommendation from a friend takes the cake. You feel like it’s been tested in an authentic ( I do hate this word, but for lack of a better word ) way.

WHICH IS WHY TAGGING OR ENGAGING IN THE COMMENTS SECTION, is so important! Even if you’re not a blogger.

Besides…who really wants to be one of those girls- you know the kind. You’re in the restroom at a local sushi joint on a Friday night just washing your hands before your hot sake & cucumber/avocado roll & it goes like this:

Me: “OMG!” I love your shirt it’s so cute!! Where’d you get that?

Girl who lies: “PHEW, EER, UH this old thing? It was a gift from a friend a long time ago. I don’t know where she found it.” ::rolls her eyes::

AWKWARD SILENCE…because she knows exactly where the top is from.

Me: well, GEE WHIZ it’s super cute!

::Also me: sees the exact top on THE NEW, NEW section on Revolve’s site the very next day::

Sharing is caring! Especially on Instagram in 2017. 

Ok, I can’t take full credit here- I actually decided to write about this topic on The Skinny Confidential after reading “The Rudest Thing You Can Do On Instagram” by Amelia Diamond on Man Repeller. I have to quote some of her musings because she is just so good:

“But where it manifested the strongest was in my urgent, impatient need to know what absolutely everyone is wearing at all times on Instagram.

I was spoiled by bloggers. I don’t follow many, but the ones I do tag their photos with diligence. Crease-free hair tie down to toenail polish, they show their cards, palms open. I also appreciate that they tag locations— plus other important things that I might need to know in the case of an emergency. I began to count on the fact that I could tap a photo ( lightly, so that the tags appeared, but not so intentionally as to like it, god forbid ) and be provided with a dossier of information. Information that I could use, or not use. Like the diner’s meal I inquired about, I just wanted to know what the deal was.

Habit fully formed, I found myself pressing photos of my friends, colleagues, adversaries and non-friends whose pictures appeared on my discover feed, in search of answers their lack of accompanying copy failed to reveal. Everyone was too sly with their captions: too vague, too pun-y, too reliant on Emojis. Their words told me nothing and their tags didn’t tell me shit. Great selfie and clever line, but who makes your earrings? Where did you wear them to? Who makes your lipstick? Who designs that couch? Who’s in that photo with you? It’s rude! True, in theory, I may have few qualms about asking you but in reality, I have even less time; I’m scrolling! This is my lunch break. To be a civilian eating a meal without a sign on your forehead that reads “chicken marsala” is one thing. To post an intriguing style photo with titillating content & zero context is quite another.

“But I am not a blogger, Amelia. It would be weird if I did that.” You are a human, human! Have some decency. What if I want to buy the shoes you’re wearing? I don’t want to twin any more than you do, but shopping sucks for everyone. Together we could make this easy. To not tag is unhelpful, not to mention borderline stingy. It is the equivalent of withholding a pie recipe because you don’t want anyone else to have it. Save us both the trouble of a DM-slide and just tell me!”

Do you love her? I feel like Amelia gets it. Let’s be like Amelia.

If not there will be way too many sad cross-body camo bag situations. A LOT OF GIRLS WILL LOG OFF INSTAGRAM SAD THAT THEY CAN’T FIND THE SPECIFIC RIPPED, LOW RISE JEANS THAT CHARLOTTE MCKINNEY IS WEARING AT NOBU BECAUSE NOTHING IS TAGGED ( true story: I still can’t find the exact jeans sadly- if someone ID’s them for me, I’ll French you ).

I know you guys feel the same way because within The Skinny Confidential Secret Facebook Group, I see so many girls asking other girls to ID an outfit. A lot of detectives in that group, let me tell you…You guys are GOOD.

But really, wouldn’t it make the world a better place if everyone would just tag? And answer questions? Let’s stop the epidemic, one tag at time!

Now obviously my real life, pre-Instagram camo moment was not the girls fault- I couldn’t physically ask her- I mean, I was driving. But just so you can sleep at night, I want you to know that after 7 years, I found the bag. Maybe not the exact bag- but DAMNIT, I found one that looks JUST like it. I’m thrilled about it & wear it all the time. It’s fab for workouts- kind of everything I dreamed of.

& to round out this post, I’ll link it for ya. BECAUSE DUH!

Love, peace, & tags- x lauryn

+ GIVEAWAY: giving away the shorter coin necklace I’m wearing here- you can pick out the one you like ( it’s a zodiac necklace ). Anyone can enter. To win, simply tell me your thoughts on tagging on my latest Instagram. Would love to hear your feedback.

++ ALSO, you can find some major outfit posts here.

SHOP MY OUTFIT, OF COURSE!: bodysuit | linen pants | sunglasses ( favorite ever! ) | loafers | bag ( sold out, similar ) | hoops | necklaces

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