Instagram is the new go-to place for wellness in our digital world. People share their workouts, healthy meals, skincare routines, and meditation practices, all painting an image of well-being and happiness. But while these activities seem to open doors to a “better life,” they also spark important conversations about who belongs in this wellness picture and who gets left out.
Sara Ahmed, in her book The Promise of Happiness, suggests that happiness isn’t a fixed state we achieve; it’s more about how we relate to certain things deemed “good.” These “happy objects” shape our desires and behaviors, but they can also create divisions. If you don’t fit the dominant image of happiness, you might feel like an outsider, or as Ahmed puts it, an “affect alien.”
This article dives into how Instagram influences our views on wellness and happiness. Specifically, it looks at how wellness culture on the platform promotes certain ideals while marginalizing others. For instance, the Global Wellness Institute explains that wellness practices—like exercise and diet—are not directly linked to happiness, which is more about personal fulfillment. Instead, Instagram wellness often portrays these practices as shortcuts to happiness, framing them as “happy objects” that we should aspire to.
Content that triggers strong feelings tends to get more attention on social media. Emotional aspects make experiences feel shareable and valuable. On Instagram, posts showcasing wellness routines can motivate users, creating a sense of community. However, it’s essential to remember that this promise of happiness isn’t always realistic. Sometimes, curated images lead to disappointment when we can’t match those idealized standards, which can transform inspiration into frustration.
This dynamics shifts wellness from a personal choice to a shared community experience. Users connect over similar interests, making wellness feel communal rather than isolating. Studies show that adopting a healthy lifestyle is illustrated not just as individual effort, but as a way to belong to a group. Still, influencers heavily shape this narrative. They often share wellness tips but also promote products, blending community with commercialization.
Instagram has turned self-care into a commodity. As noted by various scholars, products related to wellness are often marketed as essential for achieving happiness. This reflects a broader trend where happiness is tied to consumption and efficiency, leading to the idea that you can buy your way to happiness.
The platform also reinforces social hierarchies. Status symbols, including certain lifestyles and body types, dictate who gets visibility in wellness spaces. Research indicates that the Instagram algorithm tends to favor those who have already acquired social capital, further marginalizing less-visible stories. For individuals who don’t fit the mold, there’s a real risk of feeling alienated and excluded.
An essential point to consider is how wellness culture often overlooks diverse experiences. Many people—like those with disabilities or chronic illnesses—don’t see themselves represented in wellness content and may feel disconnected from this so-called community. The disparity in visibility creates a divide, leading to a narrative where some individuals are blamed for not conforming to wellness standards, deepening feelings of inadequacy.
Instagram essentially unfolds as a landscape where behaviors and ideals are governed by economic means. The connections you create through wellness can give you social capital, making it easier to succeed in these spaces. Those with fewer resources might struggle to access the same supportive networks, reinforcing a sense of exclusion.
In summary, while Instagram promotes a vision of wellness that can foster community and motivation, it also perpetuates inequality. Wellness is presented as a path to happiness, but this path often privileges certain identities and lifestyles. As a result, many feel they must navigate a system that both elevates and marginalizes, making wellness a complex mixture of aspiration and exclusion.
Exploring these nuances can help us understand the true landscape of wellness today. When we engage with wellness on social media, it’s essential to remain critical of whose narratives are being amplified and whose stories go unheard.
