How Instagram Has Become the New Healthcare Campaign: A Letter to Millenials
By Verónica Rodríguez, Account Supervisor
Dear Millennials,
What is currently stopping you from buying a $20 plane ticket? If you’re anything like me, that might sound extremely tempting. As many know, it is proven that millennials are risk-takers. How about during this lockdown, are millennials taking this seriously? A change of routine due to the impacts of coronavirus is disrupting life right now, and we worry anxiously about when and whether we will return to our routines. After all, they call us the “worry generation,” as said by CNBC, given that the light at the end of the tunnel is uncertain. As the generation who is most over concerned, what can we do to take this pandemic day-by-day and be optimistic? You are probably drowning with the amount of information you are inhaling/bombarding you: the number of infected, countries tightening borders, increasing the risk of economic recession, and more dead every day. However, an important tool to escape the coronavirus information flood is social media, especially Instagram.
Social media might be chock-full with toilet paper memes, #coronatime Tik Tok videos or online workout routines. Thus, social media has become a comfort platform for millennials to follow and listen to their favorite influencers during these hardships.
In a way, Instagram has become an important source of information and consolation for millennials because many influencers have been vocal online about the pandemic. Famous fashion blogger, Danielle Bernstein, has expressed her concern and the importance to stay at home – along with other content that has nothing to do with the health issue- but serves as a healthy distraction.
Instagram has become the new healthcare campaign that has allowed millennials to breathe, pause, and inhale the situation wisely.
A 29-year-old called Andy, @thisiswatt, has shared his experience being infected by the coronavirus. He shared a descriptive picture that states “Yesterday I was given the results that I am positive for COVIC-19. Most importantly he stated, “To have the mentality ‘I’m you young this can’t affect me’ is just straight up stupid and so dangerous to everyone around.” Andy has not been the only millennials social media public figure who has shared his experience.
So how have influencers disrupted Instagram towards the good for millennials to not go sane?
- Exercise tips and routines
- Support local business
- Books, TV shows, and movies to watch
- Board games to play
- Sharing their opinion on how to keep a headstrong
- List of restaurants open to deliver or pick up
- Recipes for baking or cooking
- Tips about mental health
- Tik Tok moves
- Memes
Millennials, stop worrying. Do not think, “ugh this is ruining the party I had planned” or “this is a nightmare that will not end.” Instead, think about the people who are battling for their lives and want to recover. The world might be on hold for now, but you have time to still enjoy life and do the activities you most enjoy. Take this time to stop taking things for granted. Find little things that bring you pleasure and distraction.
The most important thing is to stay safe and take care of your loved ones,
Verónica Rodríguez