Why do people unfriend/unfollow me after seeing my picture?

[Anonymous]

So, I'm not a very social media person, i have an Instagram account where I post my pets, garden and landscape pictures. However, a few days ago I had a nice trip and got a picture that made me look quite fine. It was nothing inappropriate- I wore my country's traditional clothes and went to a flower market. I have okayish skin so I didn't put any makeup or filter on. After posting that I saw the number of my followers decreasing though I couldn't trace who they were. It made me feel insecure. I have never been a fan of how I look and this only made matters go worse.

Do people unfriend/unfollow people because they find them ugly?

[Cynicaldreamer]

Oh I empathize with you anon... I can relate too well to that issue unfortunately. And I'm sorry that people are that ignorant and close minded to judge you purely on your picture and looks rather than your personality, and photography of your life.

More than likely, they don't think you're attractive, or how they envisioned you would look. Again, that is their opinion! I am NOT saying you are unattractive. But that is more than likely what happened. People assume everyone online is this picture perfect model and when you do not fit into said image, they lose interest.

I tell people, even my friends online, that's why I refuse to show my picture: people are so judgmental and superficial! I used to have people ghost or stop talking to me when they saw my real life picture as well. It is... very discouraging to say the least. But you learn some people are that way. It is best to avoid or not associate with them; be glad they are no longer watching you: that is their loss, not yours!

[Asker]

Thank you for spending so much efforts and time to answer my question. Yes, social media is very lookist. I'm a non-professional photographer and being so, capturing life and death through my lens, I can never imagine having liked in 'k'-s while my beautiful friend, who just posts her own pictures and reels can easily expect. I have an artist friend, who has had similar experience. People in social media care about only some superficial levels of beauty. I'm quite skinny and have type 2 wavy hair. These traits have made innumerable people consider me ugly since childhood. Besides, in my country, the average skin tone is tanned brown but I'm a bit lighter which makes me unfit to wear all the colours my country folk wear and makes me look a bit scary in bright tones. So, it is good that they revealed their lack of depth. You're right.

[Asker]

*having likes

[RoseySarah]

So sorry but this is about the dumb internet!

They only followed for the animal pictures not your photos!

Same thing happened to me. Like this is my personality account not an animal insta. Course I wanna post my pictures also!

But the internet only wants what is wants and they unfollowed cause you posted personal pictures not more animal ones.

😢 You must look amazing and some were jealous 😍! Social media is about you sharing you not numbers.

[Asker]

Thank you! I too think so. When I started posting landscape after constantly posting my pets, many people immediately unfollowed me. Besides, some people are so lookist that all they care about is whether the person they're viewing physically attractive or not, and if not, they don't care about your other potentials.

[RoseySarah]

So true people are soean and rude online!
YouTube and twitch way worse!
If I changed games or tried a new one they would get so mad!
Like I'm not playing the same game all my life!

[ProbablyClueless]

It would be tough to provide you any helpful answers without seeing your pictures.

[AmandaYVR]

It could be they don't like your culture or what country you're from. (Based on the fact that you said you were wearing your country's traditional clothes.) Sorry. But remember that for every person who dislikes something, there's another who does. If you post more of yourself like that, you could eventually get follows based on that very same thing.

[Asker]

Actually most people I saw were from my country. Besides, those clothes aren't that strictly traditional, people all over the world wear them. However, I understand your viewpoint. Thanks.

[Rei13]

Social media shows unrealistic beauty standards. A lot of pictures are edited, you’re getting someone at their best angle, etc. You shouldn’t compare yourself to that. Anonymous followers don’t actually matter, it feels good to see the numbers but it doesn’t replace actual bonds. Also, just because other people are beautiful doesn’t mean that you’re not beautiful too.

[Adaeva]

They follow beautiful people and obviously, you are not beautiful. You are probably above average but above is not enough.

[Asker]

Exactly. You're right. Honestly speaking, I don't think I'm above average either. I'm quite skinny and have type 2 wavy hair. These traits have made innumerable people consider me ugly since childhood. Besides, in my country, the average skin tone is tanned brown but I'm a bit lighter which makes me unfit to wear all the colours my country folk wear and makes me look a bit scary in bright tones. So, I am not even average, lol!

[Adaeva]

I can't say about your country since I don't know what country you live in. However, based on your description, if you lived in the USA, you would be above average. Girls spend time and money to have type 2 appearing wavy hair and you have it naturally. In the the USA the average girl is fat and 11 times out of 10, skinny is better than fat. However, we don't want to hurt their feeling, so instead of calling a girl fat, we will say she is curvy. However, they are seldom curvy. Curvy is an hour-glass figure or at least a small waist-to-hip ratio. Skinny girls can have an hour-glass figure. This is Twiggy in her early twenties.
At the time, she was a famous model and actress. If she had tried to be like most young women near her age, she would never have been famous. She also had very light skin. However, she was herself and proud of it. Therefore, she stood out, was noticed, and became famous.

That is what you should do, be proud, be yourself, stand out, and be noticed. Especially, you should be proud. I you are not proud, you don't give the impression of being special. I am not claiming that you can be famous but you can be different in a nice way and be noticed. I want your attitude to be, "Hey! Look at me, I'm special."

At the time, she was

[Anonymous]

Probably just coincidence or bad judgement, sounds like it

[Anonymous]

They’re probably bot accounts

[Anonymous]

You're unattractive

[Asker]

Well, thanks for clarifying. Much appreciated.