15 Toxic Instagram Trends That Should Not Be Promoted

Seriously! How are people calling these "entertainment"?

Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms in the world. With over a billion users, it is no secret that this platform influences children and adults alike. From entertainment to shopping, Instagram is growing to be a one-stop destination for all. In the past few years, we have all witnessed the growth of problematic content being aired as "entertainment." Here are some of the most toxic trends that I think actually should just be banned.

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1. Cancel culture

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While calling out and holding people accountable for their actions is necessary, cancel culture publicly shames a person and does not even give them a chance to see their mistake and become a better person. It's almost just become a trend to cancel someone instead of collectively trying to teach each other to be better. 

2. Sadfishing

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Sadfishing is a trend in which influencers and celebrities come on live broadcasts and cry for clout. Expressing human emotions is necessary, but crying on live? Huh?!

3. Glorification of overworking

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Not every hobby has to be a hustle. We are allowed to have creative outlets that don't bring in money.

4. The idea of a "perfect" life

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It's a farce that makes other people feel bad about their own lives. 

5. Inability to tolerate disagreements

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Not everyone has to agree with your opinions and beliefs. Can't we all just agree to disagree? Of course, some issues ARE completely black and white (there's never an excuse to agree with homophobia, for instance). But can we acknowledge that there's a lot of gray area when it comes to many topics?

6. Filming strangers

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You might not want your life to be private, but I want mine to be.

7. Pranks that can cause physical harm

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Drinking sanitizers? Going out and licking things in the middle of a global pandemic? Really?!

8. "Influencers" giving out health and financial advice

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Skincare influencers are often not dermatologists. Fitness influencers do not have a medical degree.

9. Public grieving

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The public grieving of victims of violent crimes without even taking the victims' families and their feelings into consideration. Your #hashtagRIP isn't as empathetic as you think it is. 

10. Child influencers

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Family influencers pranking their children and profiting by making them do stuff onscreen.

11. Demanding unsolicited gifts

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The trend of influencers demanding gifts from small businesses and threatening to post bad reviews if they don't agree... Isn't that just extortion? 

12. Recording yourself helping people in need for clout

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You don't need to broadcast your "altruistic" nature.

13. Making depression, anxiety, OCD, and other chronic mental illnesses an aesthetic

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No, you are not "a little" OCD or ADHD. Mental illnesses are not adjectives.

14. Unrealistic beauty standards

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Not every photograph has to be posed. Cellulite, body hair, hip dips, etc. are not weird or unhealthy... they are normal. 

15. Expecting entertainers to educate

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Not every entertainer or educator has to talk about every issue. Nobody has a responsibility to educate you but yourself. 

What are some toxic Instagram trends that really grind your gears? Let me know in the comments below!