‘Plandids:’ it’s all about getting likes

By HANNAH ANDREWS Reporter

Instagram users may have noticed their feeds showing more and more photos of people looking like they didn’t know their picture was being taken, but somehow still looking absolutely flawless. 

Chances are, they knew the photo was being taken, and they planned to be candid — they took a “plandid.”

According to an April 2017 article from Science Daily, 76 percent of teens use Instagram. This means that more than three-quarters of today’s teens are looking for “likes.” 

“Instagram is made of plandid pictures,” said Mallorie Geesman, freshman interior design major.

Sometimes the subject of the photo is looking at the ground, as if the world’s funniest joke had just been told, or they could be very serious. The subject may also be playing with their hair or walking away from the photographer.

Sarah Rohe, otherwise known as @forgetsarah on Instagram, has more than 57,000 followers. She said her go-to pose is facing away from the camera and looking back at it downward.

Searching #plandid on Instagram comes up with more than 5,500 results, not including private accounts.

{{tncms-asset app=”editorial” id=”62afbecc-989a-11e7-9748-97d220c24763″}}

Freshman nursing major Danielle Himley said, “It’s, like, a girl’s dream to post a plandid picture with a funny comment.”

A poll of 40 female students in the women’s wing of Ben Reifel Hall found that 39 had Instagram, and about 66 percent had taken a “plandid” photo. However, out of that 66 percent, only 27 percent said they’ve received more likes on their “plandid” than other photos.

“Plandids” have become ever present on Instagram, but have been found to have negative effects on an Instagrammer’s self-esteem. According to a May article from CNN, Instagram topped the list of the worst forms of social media for mental health. 

Although social media may be negative at times, “plandids” have also been found to help improve self-esteem. According to an article by HuffPo on the impact social media has on self-esteem, 60 percent of people on social media said it has impacted their self-esteem in a negative way, and 80 percent reported it is easier to be deceived about the lifestyles and happiness of others. 

“When your news feed is filled with models and people who only post things about leading these glorious lives, it’s so easy to forget there are things like Photoshop, good angles and false advertisement,” Rohe said.

The poll of Ben Reifel residents also asked about the improvement of self-esteem when a picture gets more likes than usual. Seventy-three percent of participants said the more likes they get, the better they feel. 

“I think Instagram can affect a person’s self esteem in both extremely positive and extremely negative ways,” Rohe said. “The type of accounts you chose to follow is what can make all the difference. When you follow people who trigger jealous emotions inside you it can become addictive and unhealthy only leading to negative self esteem.”

Though it’s a two-sided argument, the “plandid” phase is far from over. So sit back, relax and get ready to scroll.