Types of Instagram Flexers

Wierd flex, but ok.

Every Sunday evening, I get a screen time notification on my iPhone on where my productivity for that week went. Here’s last week’s summary:

Some would say I’ve been spending too much time on Instagram, but I’ve just been researching for this story. Instagram flexing is a cultural phenomena — brought to you by the Zucks — where people are rewarded to share photos of their lives to construct a digital persona that imitates their aspirational self. The reward: engagement in the form of likes & views.

Here’s are some flavors of said flexing:

The Hustler

• Instagram stories about working 5 minutes outside of normal working hours.
• Entrepreneur +CEO in profile bio
• Spreadsheets, coffee shops, cryptocurrency charts, motivational posts, and mushroom coffee are shown in high frequency in the profile
• Follows Gary Vaynerchuk, Elon Musk and Tim Ferriss.

The Club Promoter

• Post may include, but not limited to: Bottle’s Popping, flashing multicolor lights, cranberry vodka, and awkward dudes hanging out in the background wishing they stayed home and were watching Narcos.

Gym Rat

• Time stamped posts, either early morning or late nights at the local 24 Hour Fitness.
• Posts at KBBQ wearing a short sleeve shirt 2 sizes smaller than they should’ve bought in 65 degree weather.
• You recognize their favorite pre-workout supplement (C4).
• BONUS: Cheat Days include stuff you normally eat. I had to do it to you Dwayne:

Hypebeast

• Marketer’s Target Consumer
• comments ‘gotta cop that’ under post from: The Goat, Supreme and Sneaker News.
• you wonder if they’re saving enough for retirement.

Foodie: 4 distinct types

• Basic B: Post include Avocado Toast, Overpriced Oat Lattes, #PSL and Rosé allday.
• Exotic: If they didn’t post about the 21 course Michellin Star experience, did it really happen?
• Horizontal Photographer: Ain’t nobody got time to turn the phone to see your extra wet burrito. The future is now — Vertical Format, please.
• Vegan: 🥗 🥦🥬 or ‘vegan’ in bio and suspiciously laughing like they just watched a comedy special before taking the picture.

Conclusion.

In the perpetual race for likes and views, I’m seeing people chase these lifestyles rather than life. We aspire to be accepted within the Inner Ring of whichever group matters to us in the moment. I’m probably guilty of a few flexes in my time, and chances are that you are probably too. Nothing wrong with it, just don’t let the flexing consume you. Now, let’s get this bread.

Ohh yea, I used to flex that entrepreneur life. Comment below the flexes is missed!