For those who are unfamiliar, these posts focus on a range of topics - from concerns about friendships and romantic relationships (or lack thereof), to fears for the future, or even daily personal struggles. All is admitted to through small snippets of text on screen.
The aim of the trend is to break through the walls of social media’s inauthenticity and be more truthful in how we present ourselves online. In this way, the trend does a lot of good as there is relatability in the posts which is reassuring (to both the audience and the creator) that you’re not the only person to think or feel the way you do. I have seen a number of creators disclosing similar worries surrounding the same subjects, and I hope they find each other so they know they’re not alone!
The aim of the trend is to break through the walls of social media’s inauthenticity
However, some posts go a lot deeper, and perhaps stray into the realms of oversharing. Here, the text fills the screen and goes into intimate detail - sharing health battles or the problems of past relationships. I feel this interpretation of ‘admittance’ has a danger of tipping the scale and turning the trend into something else. It feels less about hoping to reach out and reassure others, and more about the audience reassuring the creator.
However, in this world in which social media is so prominent, I think it is fair to say that posting almost anything online as a part of a trend has some level of validation seeking as a motivation, otherwise why post it at all? But that is not to say it is a negative thing. The trend as a whole aims for authenticity, and I feel it delivers.