By: Arshnoor
According to the worldatlas.com data, India accounts in almost 60% of the total ‘selfie deaths’ globally. Psychologists argue about the ‘photo- taking impairment effect’. It means if we put in efforts to click a photograph rather than living the moment, we are oblivious to forgetting the moment after a span of time.
The allure of capturing moments has transformed the way we perceive and interact with the world. Photography became an aesthetic consumerist medium, and we didn’t even realise that sometimes the
transition is not positive. There were moments back in life when our grandparents used to warn us that technology would take over life, we thought evolution was essential; but surely not on account of our lives. We have reclaimed the lost art of living in the present. The simpler joys have gone, moments when we used to bask in sun, when every moment used to become laughter and fun. Today we make sure to click that one sun kissed photo for gram because not social but ‘social media’ engagement is required.
Aryan Datt [@aryandattblogs], a social media influencer and a model for online advertising puts well, ‘As a social media influencer, I’ve observed how our focus on recording moments for likes can overshadow
our lives and truly living them. We’re often more concerned with capturing the perfect shot than making genuine memories, sacrificing present experiences for digital validation.’
It’s important to recognize that there is beauty in imperfection – in the candid snapshots of life’s messy, unfiltered moments. By embracing imperfections and allowing ourselves to be fully present in each
moment, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of human experience. When we constantly consume such perfected visuals, we may start expecting our own experiences to match these standards. We become more focused on capturing the “perfect” moment rather than fully immersing ourselves in it. That’s why moments have been lost and what we are left with is memories!
Counting on the camera to record the event and thus not paying our full attention– it can have a negative impact on how well we remember our experiences. In today’s digital age, we are constantly bombarded with stunning images on social media platforms. From picturesque landscapes to meticulously arranged flat lays, aesthetic photography has become a constant in our online lives. While these images may be visually captivating, they also have a subtle yet profound impact on how we experience and appreciate the present moments. Smart phones, cameras, filters and every other glittery aspect has ruined the ability to accept our own selves. God gave us beautiful nature to relish, not to make it an imposter for our social media lives.
The advent of ‘life through lens’ has gone to an extent that we have been started getting dominated by our own devices. Gone are the days when we used to feel the moment when firecrackers used to paint the sky colourful, now we capture the live moment via our phones. We have become preoccupied with capturing it, rather than ‘living it’. It’s not a bad idea to click our beloved memories but not on the sake of forgetting the people around and the moments which come once in life. In the pursuit of aesthetic perfection, let’s not forget the essence of life itself. It’s time for us to pause, rethink and reclaim our moments, finding beauty in unscripted, unfiltered and imperfect moments.
