Social Media Culture - "Instagram Evangelism" with Leigh Stein

According to author Leigh Stein, the internet is run by “a thousand Oprahs,” influencers with beautiful lifestyles who post relatable content that makes them feel like friends to their thousands of followers. While internet friends might “like” the same things as us, they can never truly listen to our honest confessions and pain. Social media influencers cannot meet the expectations that we put on them. What is it that we expect from Instagram icons, and where do we need to look elsewhere?

In this episode, Chris and Eddie talk with Stein about her New York Times article, “The Empty Religions of Instagram.” The article explores the ways social media users turn to influencers as moral authorities that offer structure, comfort, encouragement, and humor. Stein has observed the birth of a new online orthodoxy that resembles religious beliefs, but that is missing the mercy or grace of true human connections within faith communities. This episode offers insight into the disappointment of digital iconography, the outrage cycle of social media, and our innate urge to testify and tell our stories.

Resources

Follow Leigh Stein on the web:

https://www.leighstein.com 

Read Leigh Stein’s article The Empty Religions of Instagram

Check out Leigh Stein’s novel Self Care here

Follow Leigh Stein on social media:

https://www.instagram.com/leighstein/ 

https://twitter.com/rhymeswithbee