Raw Is the New Beautiful

The Pursuit of Perfection

“Perfect” and “perfection” are two words that carry the weight of the world. They suggest that we must behave according to certain standards, regardless of our individual preferences. It is always about fitting into the perfect mold and meeting society’s expectations.

With this pressure came the hopeless feeling of losing our own desires and rationality to what others wanted from us. In the process of becoming perfect for others and molding ourselves into flawless figurines, we lost our sense of self. Identifying and understanding our genuine selves became something limited to our inner thoughts, never permitted to cross the boundaries of our minds.

“Keep it to yourself,” they said. “That’s not how you should act,” they emphasized.

And we listened. But not anymore.

Let’s Go Back a Little

Social media platforms have become modern digital stages where people can present themselves in ways they never imagined. They offer a digital escape into a world that looks nothing like reality. As viewers, we became captivated by content depicting users’ seemingly perfect lives, which we daydreamed about daily.

We knew it was all for the cameras, but we still dreamed about and desired what they had. We forgot that what appears on camera is often nothing like what exists behind it. Social media is a public stage, and as entertainers and performers, creators feel compelled to present themselves as perfectly as possible. This dynamic created a confusing divide between reality and entertainment produced for profit.

When we watched shows on MTV and TLC, we understood that they were performances created for business and entertainment. They were not perfect representations of reality, but we still desired what they portrayed. That desire grew into wanting those experiences for ourselves, but without a camera crew following us.

Social media made that possible almost instantly. These platforms gave users the opportunity to become whoever they wanted and express themselves in ways that once seemed impossible. In other words, social media platforms became the new MTV and TLC, with content and storylines that are nearly indistinguishable from reality television.

Cringe Culture and the Perfect Public Image

The polished presentation of a user’s life strips away the imperfections and originality of reality beyond the screens and taps that contribute to a person’s digital identity. As digital life becomes a central part of how we live and interact, a new system of power and superiority has emerged. This hierarchy is based on social engagement, views, ratings, and other metrics that determine a user’s status.

As these new labels and power dynamics emerged within digital spaces, new titles followed. We once knew these people as ordinary users and content creators. However, their growing power and influence led them to become known as influencers.

With the rise of influencers across social media, the word “cringe” began to shape how people reacted to nearly every post. Videos with “cringe” in their titles achieved major success on YouTube. These videos often featured people creating humorous content or bullying others for entertainment without considering the mental health effects on those being targeted.

Cringe culture is rooted in the false perfection staged through videos and other content. A sense of authority and belonging draws users toward this material, giving them the excitement and validation they may not experience elsewhere. Yet, they often forget what happens to the subjects of these short videos when the screens go black and the cameras turn off.

“Back to reality” is what many of us might think. For others, however, the psychological effects are more severe than anyone might imagine.

Not Anymore

Now, we are entering an era in which perfection is dying and bidding farewell to social media. This new era praises originality and encourages imperfections in all their forms. Cringe culture promoted an artificial standard of perfection that contributed to mental health struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Now, authenticity and original content are beginning to make a stronger debut.

Scrolling through social media does not feel as heavy as it once did. We all remember when nearly every piece of content seemed perfectly staged and rehearsed, resembling a television show rather than a simple post intended to pass the time and connect with users around the world.

I am not saying that staged content and cringe culture no longer exist. However, this type of content has begun to decline, and few people seem to miss it. Users scroll past these videos without giving them even two seconds of their time. As a result, algorithms recommend them less frequently.

This is not a digital war over who is better. It is about people craving genuine human connection. Technology may have taken over, and digital platforms may function as stages, but users and content creators still have the choice to be their true selves instead of constantly pretending and performing.

That is one reason we are willing to watch a three-minute video, or an even longer one, when it features authentic and original content from people simply being themselves. They document their daily lives, holidays, memories, and achievements. They may even record a simple conversation from the couch for strangers like you and me.

This content reflects a nostalgic desire to transform every living memory into an archive that will remain with us. It feels original and real, like old homemade videos from the 1970s and 1980s, rather than staged content created with props and manipulated to appear perfect.

What Changed?

A great deal has changed, and users have responded to these shifts with satisfaction and applause. Original, authentic videos have become comforting to watch across social media platforms. These changes continue to develop, but some of the most important include the following:

Rejecting Perfect Presentation

Content creators have begun rejecting the standards of perfect presentation enforced by the so-called “cringe police.” They are pushing back against a blueprint that dictates what perfection should look like.

Cringe culture defines perfection as flawlessness, but that does not reflect what real people are like. Being human means being original, with both strengths and imperfections. It is about mindset and confidence. The cringe police attempted to recreate perfection by eliminating the very qualities that define humans and humanity.

Authentic Digital Connection

Authentic digital connection was one of the original goals of social media platforms. They were created to connect people from around the world. When cities and countries separated people, these platforms could bring them together.

However, with the rise of carefully constructed content and cringe culture, it became difficult to distinguish what was real from what was not, or who was genuine from who was performing. This dynamic separated people as new hierarchies of power and authority began to divide online communities.

The Growth of Cohesive Communities

The growth of cohesive communities is another change resulting from the demand for greater authenticity in online content. Connection is important to people. We are driven by love and human curiosity to learn how others live, discover their hobbies, and understand what they do for fun.

This curiosity has encouraged people to seek cohesive communities and genuine relationships far removed from a cringe culture that determines who belongs and who does not.

Creating your own safe haven should always be welcomed and accepted, regardless of other people’s opinions. As long as you are happy and fulfilled, no one has the right to dictate your actions, passions, or interests.

You are who you are because of your hobbies and your authentic self. Never allow a false standard of perfection to define a life filled with individuality, rainbows, and color.