#blurredlines

[harperblue5]

ROBIN THICKE!! * FINALLY * #ROBINTHICKE #BLURREDLINES #APRILLOVEGEARY #M...

ROBIN THICKE!! * FINALLY * #ROBINTHICKE #BLURREDLINES #APRILLOVEGEARY #MODEL #CABO #SANLUCASCABO

[mirandatrannzz]

[Week 7]

The Instagram Effect: How "Perfection" Became a Full-Time Job

Instagram is not just an app; it is a beauty factory. 

The Aesthetic Template: Copy, Paste, Repeat

Instagram's "aesthetic template" is not just a trend but a strategy for visibility. Influencers copy trends for algorithm success, forcing conformity and killing individuality (Witz et al., 2003).

Most European women adhere to a beauty template that favors darker skin tones, sharp and dramatic makeup, and a more muscular, robust physique.

In contrast, traditional Asian beauty standards have long celebrated lighter, whiter skin, softer makeup, and a more delicate, slender body type (Dean, 2005). Besides, Asian women on Instagram now express themselves more but keep their distinct style, which is influenced by Western culture.

💭 Confidence or conformity: Why chase beauty ideals?

The truth is complex. While some see it as self-improvement and validation, the overwhelming influence of curated, idealized images and algorithmic pressures on social media often pushes people toward conformity over authenticity (Daniels, 2016).

Beauty Is not Universal - It is Algorithmic.

Beauty on Instagram is not just about looks but about playing the algorithm's game.

Conventionally attractive women in revealing outfits? Boosted.

Gay men expressing femininity? Often ignored.

📲 Instagram boosts sexy women and ignores feminine gay men, creating a skewed perception of self-worth and societal value. When users constantly see sexy, Eurocentric beauty ideals being rewarded with visibility and engagement, they may internalize the message that this is the "ideal" to aspire to - leading to intense pressure to conform (Bishop, 2021).

🚫 Meanwhile, the lack of representation for feminine gay men can make individuals in this group feel invisible or undervalued, reinforcing feelings of exclusion and inadequacy (Carrotte et al., 2017).

🔄 This dynamic shapes self-perception, often pushing people to alter their appearance or suppress their authenticity just to be seen. It also perpetuates harmful stereotypes about what is considered desirable or acceptable, ultimately narrowing diversity and limiting self-acceptance on the platform (Witz et al., 2003).

When Beauty & Sexualization Blur

(Warning: sensitive photos included)

This is not just about 'blurred lines'; it is about the normalization of exploitation. Young people who really look up to influencers are being taught the wrong ideas about beauty and sex. They start to think their value comes from how sexually attractive they are, which is bad for their minds and feelings (Drenten et al., 2019). 

📌 BOP House, a social media collective known for its provocative and highly sexualized content, exemplifies this phenomenon (Upton-Clark, 2025). Members like Sophia Rain (6M followers) gain fame through controversial posts, blurring the lines between social media, entertainment, and adult content. This normalization reshapes user perceptions of beauty, self-worth, and online expression.

The Mental Health Toll: When “Instagram Face” Becomes the Goal

Figure 1 (Dixon, 2024)

32% of Instagram users are 18-24, making Gen Z dominant (Figure 1). The platform is linked to depression, low self-esteem, and body image issues (Abrams, 2021). BDD affects 2% of people, especially young users, highlighting social media's role in these challenges (BDDF, n.d.).

In this video, she discusses a client with BDD driven by perfectionism and the online "aesthetic template." Obsessed with perfection, the client feels insecure and has undergone surgeries since age 14 to "fix" perceived flaws.

✨ Instagram promotes an illusion of perfection, fueling unhealthy comparisons (Witz et al., 2003). The platform's focus on curated images creates a false sense that everyone else has an ideal life, pressuring users to meet unrealistic beauty standards. A 14-year-old undergoing multiple surgeries highlights how far people go to chase this unattainable ideal. 

📱 This constant exposure distorts self-image, increases anxiety, and normalizes harmful behaviors - profoundly impacting mental health.

So... Who Really Wins?

Influencers? Maybe. Instagram? Definitely. The rest of us? We are left chasing a beauty standard that was never real.

✨ Thoughts? Have you ever felt the pressure of Instagram beauty standards? Let's talk. 💬

References

Abrams, Z. (2021, December 2). How can we minimize Instagram’s harmful effects? American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/03/feature-minimize-instagram-effects

BDDF. (n.d.). How Common is BDD? – BDDF. Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation. https://bddfoundation.org/information/frequently-asked-questions/how-common-is-bdd/

Bishop, S. (2021). Influencer Management Tools: Algorithmic Cultures, Brand Safety, and Bias. Social Media + Society, 7(1), 205630512110030. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211003066

Carrotte, E., Prichard, I., & Lim, M. S. C. (2017). “Fitspiration” on Social Media: a Content Analysis of Gendered Images. “Fitspiration” on Social Media: A Content Analysis of Gendered Images, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.6368

Daniels, E. A. (2016). Sexiness on Social Media. Sexualization, Media, & Society, 2(4), 237462381668352. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374623816683522

Dean, D. (2005). Recruiting a self: Women performers and aesthetic labour. Work, Employment and Society, 19(4), 761–774. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017005058061

Dixon, S. J. (2024, May 2). Distribution of Instagram Users Worldwide as of April 2024, by Age Group. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group/

Drenten, J., Gurrieri, L., & Tyler, M. (2019). Sexualized labour in digital culture: Instagram influencers, porn chic and the monetization of attention. Gender, Work & Organization, 27(1), 41–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.12354

Marwick, A. (2013). Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity, and Branding in the Social Media Age. Yale University Press. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300209389/status-update/

Senft, T. (2013). Microcelebrity and the Branded Self. https://fws.commacafe.org/resources/theresa_senft_microcelebrity_branded_self.pdf

Upton-Clark, E. (2025, February 12). Meet the Bop House, the internet’s divisive new OnlyFans hype house. Fast Company. https://www.fastcompany.com/91277825/meet-the-bop-house-the-internets-divisive-new-onlyfans-hype-house

Witz, A., Warhurst, C., & Nickson, D. (2003). The Labour of Aesthetics and the Aesthetics of Organization. Organization, 10(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508403010001375

[heytaewrites]

Blurred Lines

AN: This is a work of fiction. I do not know none of the people personally. It is not an accurate representation of how these people are in real life. They are just two people bringing characters/personalities to life.

Warnings: Cussing, use of alcohol, age-gap mention (Not that big of age gap between them)

Note: The female OC is older in this fic. Characters are all 21+ unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Chapter one

Summary: Old exes find their way back to each other, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

Jungkook stared at her from across the room as she posed on the carpet. She looked as beautiful as ever. Her eyes hit him first, those almond-shaped pools of mystery that seemed to catch every bit of light in the room. They weren’t just pretty; they were magnetic. Those same eyes that he fell for all those years ago.

You’d think after three years he’d be over her and he’d move on, especially with his status and fame, a replacement would have been so easy for him, but it was quite difficult because none of the girls were her. His Ana

A slight nudge brought him out of his staring as he looked over at his best friend, “She’s too old for you bro.”

Jungkook gave him a tight-lipped smile, “Right. Namjoon my mistake.”

He fought the urge to roll his eyes at his friend’s clueless comment. Even if he did confess to Anastasia being his ex, no one would ever believe him. They would probably call him delusional because how could a South Korean native be linked to an American actress?

They were two people who were on the opposite ends of the globe, a relationship between the two of them would be damn near impossible.

Not for Ana and Jungkook though, the two were too determined to make it work until it didn’t

Jungkook was angry about how she ended things, giving him the bullshit excuse of their age difference being an issue

Tch..

It wasn’t an issue all those nights they made love, talking about their careers, and where they destined to see themselves in five years with each other.

          But suddenly, their age difference was the issue?

          Right.

He knew Anastasia better than that, but he also knew himself better than that, he could’ve pushed the issue to get to the true reason for the sudden end of the relationship, but he relented and just let her leave and go back to America.

Taking a deep breath, he made eye contact with the bartender as he walked over,

          “Can I get a whiskey neat?”

Ana felt the urge to vomit, her palms were sweaty as she wiped them on draping fabric her dress. Her pulse thundered in her ears, a relentless drumbeat she couldn’t quiet. Every small movement felt like too much, and yet staying still was unbearable.

          Seeing her ex after all this time conjured up feelings, she couldn’t quite place, anxiety, fear, guilt?

          He had changed since she seen him last. Nonetheless she would have expected him to, it’s been years since she seen him physically. However, in her downtime she would snoop through his socials from time to time,

Crazy right?

She couldn’t help it, there was a nagging in the back of her mind to keep tabs on him. She knew she had no right to, seeing that she was the one who broke his heart and ended things, but she needed to make sure he was alright and to justify her decision that ending the relationship with him was what she wanted and that both would be better off with other people

 Two failed relationships and a situationship turned sour?

This had to have been her karma

                   She felt a slight touch on her arm as that jolted her from her thoughts as her publicist guided her away from the cameras,

          “You okay?” she asked                                

Ana nodded taking a deep breath, “Yeah, I’m good Mariah, just got a bit overwhelmed with the cameras.” She half-lied

           Mariah nodded seemingly believing her, “Yeah I understand what you mean, the cameras can get a tad bit overwhelming.”

          The event was a glamorous, gala-style gathering where people posed for photos, mingled with others, forged connections, and discussed potential collaborations. Essentially, it was a massive networking fest for celebrities from all walks of life and talents.

But it wasn’t really Ana’s scene. Being surrounded by so many people—some genuine, but many with questionable intentions—made her uncomfortable. Truthfully, she would have much preferred the quiet solitude of her home. Ana was one of those rare actresses who remained a mystery to the public eye. She valued her privacy and steered clear of drama and malicious tabloid stories whenever possible.

After wrapping up her recent film, The Last Celestial, Ana’s agent, Mariah, insisted that attending events like this was essential for maintaining the buzz around the movie. Mariah also believed it was an opportunity to show the world that Ana was more than just an actress.

Ana, however, felt differently. For her, the less people knew about her personal life, the better—for both her sanity and her career.

Ana’s stomach churned the moment she heard that familiar high-pitched laughter cut through the noise of the room.

His laughter.

Against her better judgment, her gaze found him. Jungkook was leaning casually against the bar, drink in hand, laughing with a friend. They seemed completely immersed in their conversation, sharing some private joke. Even after all these years, that same twinkle lingered in his eyes—a spark that stirred memories she thought she’d buried long ago.

          For that split second, Jungkook’s eyes met hers, catching her in the act.

Damn.

Ana quickly averted her gaze, pretending she had simply been scanning the crowd. But deep down, she knew it was obvious, and so did he.

When Ana looked up again, her stomach dropped as she saw Jungkook walking toward her.

Shit.

Mariah beamed, completely unaware of Ana’s discomfort, as she spotted Jungkook approaching them. Leaning in, she whispered excitedly to Ana, “He’s a massive popstar overseas and has been slowly breaking into mainstream Western media. This could be a great opportunity for you. You could potentially—”

“I don’t do the whole video vixen thing. Not my style,” Ana interrupted sharply.

Mariah rolled her eyes just as Jungkook stopped right in front of them,

          “Hello, I hope I’m not interrupting,” Jungkook said warmly, his voice smooth as his gaze lingered on Ana before flickering briefly to Mariah.

Mariah beamed, completely unaware of the shift in Ana’s demeanor. “Not at all! I was just telling Anastasia about your impressive accomplishments. She doesn’t get out much, you know—prefers to live under a rock,” she quipped with a laugh.

“Mariah!” Ana snapped, her tone sharp, though her eyes stayed fixed on Jungkook.

He chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eye that sent a shiver down her spine. “Anastasia, is it?” he asked, his voice laced with an understated challenge, like he was testing the waters.

Ana felt her pulse quicken under his steady gaze. Her throat suddenly felt dry, but she forced herself to respond, her voice carefully even. “Yeah, Ana is fine.”

Mariah, oblivious to the subtle current of tension, clapped her hands together. “Well, isn’t this just perfect? You two should definitely talk—Jungkook is always open to new collaborations, right?”

Jungkook tilted his head, his eyes never leaving Ana. “Always,” he said smoothly, his lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.

Ana’s fingers curled slightly at her sides, fighting to maintain her composure. Mariah, meanwhile, seemed thoroughly pleased with herself, completely blind to the silent exchange happening right in front of her.

“Great. I’ll leave you two to it then.” Mariah spoke before walking off, leaving Jungkook and Ana alone

“Did you want to step out for a moment? I wanted to smoke.” Jungkook questioned

          Ana nodded, “Sure lead the way.”

The silence between them was heavy, thick with unspoken words. It hung in the cool night air like an invisible barrier neither could quite break. Jungkook held a cigarette loosely between his lips, but his hand hovered, unable to bring himself to light it. Ana, standing a few steps away, fidgeted nervously with the draping fabric of her dress. The soft rustle of the material was the only sound aside from the distant hum of the gala behind them.

“I’m sorry,” Ana finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. She glanced at him, her expression a mix of regret and vulnerability. “For everything, Jungkook, I—”

Jungkook cut her off with a bitter laugh, sharp and unexpected. He flicked the unlit cigarette away, watching it tumble to the ground before crushing it under his shoe. The act was abrupt, his need for tobacco momentarily abandoned.

“You’re sorry?” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief and something darker. He turned to face her fully now, his eyes locking onto hers, the weight of his emotions undeniable.

Ana flinched at the sharp tone of his voice, “JJ you’re not-“

          He cut her off, “Jungkook.”

The correction of her from calling him his nickname to his correct full name stung, it stung more than she cared to admit,

          “Okay, Jungkook, you’re not being fair this isn’t fair.”

“Fair?” He echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. “You want to talk about fair? You broke up with me, left me standing there in Seoul with nothing but some vague excuse about our age gap, and then disappeared back to America. And now you’re here telling me I’m not being fair?”

She felt her chest tighten, his words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. “It wasn’t as simple as that, and you know it,” she said, her voice trembling.

“Then explain it to me, Ana,” he said, stepping closer, his gaze fixed on hers. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you gave up on us without even trying. You made that decision for both of us and left me with nothing.”

She looked away, her hands gripping the material of her dress. “I thought I was doing what was best for you,” she murmured, the words barely audible.

Jungkook let out a hollow laugh, shaking his head. “Best for me?” he repeated bitterly. “You think breaking my heart and running halfway across the world was best for me?”

The silence between them hung heavy, and when Ana finally looked up, her voice cracked with emotion. “Yes, I made the decision to—”

His jaw tightened; his frustration barely contained. “Your decision?” he spat, voice rising. “I’m not some kid you can make decisions for!” He took a step closer, his tone softening but the hurt still clear. “You didn’t even give me a chance. You just walked away.”

“Jungkook that is not fair.” She spoke her eyes dropping feeling the weight of his words

Jungkook’s laugh was low and tinged with sarcasm. “Fair? Ana, you left me and you’re complaining I’m not being fair.”

Ana was quiet as the outside air seemed to chill her further as the tension between them was uncomfortably thick

Ana went to say something as they both heard footsteps and drunken chatter creating a momentary pause in the conversation

Jungkook didn’t even spare a glance as he walked back into the gala, leaving Ana standing outside in the cold. Ana exhaled sharply, her breath visible in the frosty air.

"Fuck." she muttered under her breath.

Tag: @owlopal

[twohid3]

Vivid Visions: Tales Woven from the Threads of Diverse Imaginations

👇

Vivid Visions is a collection of tales that explore the fragile line between reality and the unknown. Each story delves into human emotions—grief, regret, fear—unraveling dark truths and eerie encounters that blur the familiar with the surreal, leaving readers questioning what lies beneath the surface.

👇

click here order now https://www.amazon.com/Vivid-Visions-Threads-Diverse-Imaginations-ebook/dp/B0DK5MNJW7/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[dailyfont-com]

Rovey Blur combines vintage charm with blurred elements, perfect for display purposes, evoking nostalgia and timeless elegance in posters, branding, and more.

Link: https://l.dailyfont.com/zsksq

[bossladykei]

Blurred Lines Darby U Hockey Boys #2 by Andi Jaxon

Almost finished… Book Review: spoilers little here and there*** I thought this book was interesting and to learn how Paul and Brenden got together was interesting enough. I just didn’t like the fact that the Chad guy and his dad was horrible people towards Brenden. Plus I think Chad either wanted Brenden deep down or he didn’t know what his sexuality was. I would love a book where someone…

[fabiomontedoro]

Blurred lines

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

☆•☆•☆ #NEWRELEASE ☆•☆•☆

BLURRED LINES, book 2 in the Darby U Hockey Boys series by Andi Jaxon, is now LIVE! Grab your copy today!! 

#oneclick : https://books2read.com/BlurredLines-AndiJaxon

Add to #TBR : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122752305-blurred-lines

I’ve been in love with my best friend for years. 

The problem?

He thinks I’m straight.

And now that I share a dorm with him, his insistent need to cuddle -and lack of clothes- are blurring the careful lines I’ve drawn.

I'm struggling to keep my defenses up.

I love him but I’m afraid. 

Afraid I’m not enough to make him stay.

Afraid he’ll rip my heart out.

Afraid he won’t love me back.

But I see a side of him no one else does.

In the security of our room, he lets his mask fall. 

Lets me hold him. 

Something lurks in the dark recesses of his mind that keeps him from going all in. 

He’s just as hesitant about this as I am, but I don’t understand why.

Can I convince him to let me love him the way he deserves…

or will he take my heart and run away with it?

Haven't started the series yet? Grab HIDDEN SCARS today on Kindle Unlimited! 

[oldbutchdanielcraig]

wait sorry forgot daniel is canonically 69. sawry </3 #blurredlines #characterbleed

[rbadgalriri]

#blurredlines

[paulodebargelove]

Lizzen x Robin Thicke - "Why Remix" [Official Music Video]

#New #Video #robinthicke #maskedsinger #blurredlines

[cocktailsfairytales]

☆•☆•☆ #NEWRELEASE ☆•☆•☆

BLURRED LINES, book 2 in the Darby U Hockey Boys series by Andi Jaxon, is now LIVE! Grab your copy today!!

#oneclick : https://books2read.com/BlurredLines-AndiJaxon

Add to #TBR : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122752305-blurred-lines

I’ve been in love with my best friend for years.

The problem?

He thinks I’m straight.

And now that I share a dorm with him, his insistent need to cuddle -and lack of clothes- are blurring the careful lines I’ve drawn.

I'm struggling to keep my defenses up.

I love him but I’m afraid.

Afraid I’m not enough to make him stay.

Afraid he’ll rip my heart out.

Afraid he won’t love me back.

But I see a side of him no one else does.

In the security of our room, he lets his mask fall.

Lets me hold him.

Something lurks in the dark recesses of his mind that keeps him from going all in.

He’s just as hesitant about this as I am, but I don’t understand why.

Can I convince him to let me love him the way he deserves…

or will he take my heart and run away with it?

Haven't started the series yet? Grab HIDDEN SCARS today on Kindle Unlimited!

https://books2read.com/HiddenScars-AndiJaxon

#andijaxon #authorandijaxon #blurredlines #blurredlinesisnowlive #lbgtbooks #lgbtq #loveislove #bookshelf #mmreads #mmromancereads #mm #bookstagram #mmromance #indieauthorcreative #spicyromance #spicybookstagram

[joyffree]

🏒 NEW RELEASE 🏒

BLURRED LINES, book 2 in the Darby U Hockey Boys series by Andi Jaxon is LIVE!! Don’t miss this all new M/M, friends to lovers romance!!!

ONE-CLICK TODAY!!! FREE IN KU!!! 

  ➜ https://books2read.com/BlurredLines-AndiJaxon 

BLURB

I’ve been in love with my best friend for years. 

The problem?

He thinks I’m straight.

And now that I share a dorm with him, his insistent need to cuddle -and lack of clothes- are blurring the careful lines I’ve drawn.

I'm struggling to keep my defenses up.

I love him but I’m afraid. 

Afraid I’m not enough to make him stay.

Afraid he’ll rip my heart out.

Afraid he won’t love me back.

But I see a side of him no one else does.

In the security of our room, he lets his mask fall. 

Let's me hold him. 

Something lurks in the dark recesses of his mind that keeps him from going all in. 

He’s just as hesitant about this as I am, but I don’t understand why.

Can I convince him to let me love him the way he deserves…

or will he take my heart and run away with it?

Haven't started the series yet? Grab HIDDEN SCARS today on Kindle Unlimited! 

ADD TO YOUR TBR: 

[vincentgstudios]

POV #blurredlines 🫠 after that last martini put you just slightly over your limit 🥴🤣all I can say is @kemistudiofive THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING‼️My boring ass was getting sleepy after dinner & I didn’t think I had it in me to be spot hopping but when @itsmefyg decided to combine the #bdayvibes with the tail end of the bachelor #party I knew it would be a night to remember….I never really make plans for my #bday but I appreciate y’all for getting my weekend started on the right frequency 🙌🏾 Thank Assata for me please & tell her safe travels while globetrotting 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 #piscesseason (at ATL) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp79f9zAQRx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[toyastales]

" Beauty without expression is boring " - Ralph Waldo Emerson View more of my work at https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/latoya-cole . . . . . #beautifulart #beautifulartwork #canwetalk #speakfreely #intimacy #creativeexpression #toyastales #lcole #LaToyaCole #queenshit #blackqueens #femaleartists #neverboring #royal #ralphwaldoemersonquotes #blurredlines #connections https://www.instagram.com/p/CVoQIgdvJRl/?utm_medium=tumblr