Born and raised in an era of social media, one of the first lessons Gen-Z is taught is that what is posted on the internet stays there forever, even long after a delete button has been pressed. Most embrace this advice, thinking twice before they post something publicly. This extreme awareness has even evolved into anxiety for some teenagers who become nervous about how their posts will be perceived by their followers and what permanent blemish it will leave on their internet life.

However, Instagram offers a realm where teenagers and others can be unfiltered and express themselves to their close friends. This realm is called a “finsta,” short for “fake Instagram.” Here, users can privately post practically whatever they want, without the anxiety that comes from potentially being judged by hundreds of followers. Typically, users choose to post more personal things that they would not be comfortable sharing on their public accounts. Everything ranging from a song you might like or an extensive rant on a movie you disliked – there are no limits. In a finsta account, things that might be looked down upon such as double-posting or spamming are expected, not judged.

Finstas have become increasingly relevant during the Coronavirus pandemic, as many people have started opening up accounts to ensure they do not lose touch with friends whom they could no longer visit in person. Sophia Randall ’22 believes that finstas are a useful tool in navigating the loneliness and instability that the pandemic has introduced. “Of course, finstas are not the same thing as being able to talk with my friends face-to-face, but it’s a great substitute.”

This begs the question – since we’ve started to inch further and further away from social distancing due to the distribution of vaccines, will finstas still be used prominently in a post-pandemic world? Signs point to yes as there are various other ways a finsta is purposeful.

Rose Marabello ’22 uses their finsta as a creative outlet, posting digital drawings they’ve made. “I used to be afraid to share my art but since my finsta is only seen by my very close friends, I don’t feel judged. It’s also given me the confidence to publicly post some of my drawings if they’re well-received by my close friends.” They also use the space to post aesthetic images in posts that serve as mood boards and vision boards.

Mariam Moazzam ’22 uses her finsta for archival purposes. “Whenever I’m running out of storage on my phone but don’t want to delete important photos, I post the photos on my finsta and then delete them from my gallery. That way I have more space on my phone and know where to find memorable moments.”

No matter how you choose to use your finsta account, you are guaranteed a less stress-inducing experience that really emphasizes the social aspect of social media and a way to keep in touch with friends.

Finstas have become increasingly relevant during the Coronavirus pandemic, as many people have started opening up accounts to ensure they do not lose touch with friends they can no longer visit.