22F here. I’m using Instagram as the main example since that’s the platform I want to start using more normally.
A bit of context; I grew up in a developing Southeast Asian country where social media was present but not fully dominant during my teenage years. This was partly due to internet access and cultural norms around online sharing at the time. I also did not have a phone until I was 18. Things changed significantly after COVID, when social media became much more widespread and normalized. I later moved to study at a university in a different urban urban area, where I became more aware of how normal social media presence is for most people around me.
I currently only use social media anonymously, without a real identity attached.
In my immediate social circle, which is from a similar socioeconomic background, social media use is fairly minimal. People rarely post, and if they do, it’s usually just occasional stories. However, most still have an Instagram tied to their real identity. That’s the norm within my immediate environment.
Right now, I only know around 15 people in real life who use Instagram and would potentially follow me. I already follow about 7 people I know personally, but I use a fake name account even though they know it’s me.
I want to switch to using my real identity, but I feel very anxious about starting from what feels like zero. I’m scared people will judge me for having a very empty profile and low presence.
Even when I meet new people or go to meetups, I don’t feel comfortable exchanging Instagram because I worry about being perceived negatively. This has started to make me avoid social situations, which reinforces the cycle.
So I’m looking for practical advice:
> How do I start using social media with my real identity when I feel anxious about being seen as “behind” socially?
> What are realistic first steps to build a normal presence without overwhelming myself?
> How do people usually transition from anonymous accounts to real identity accounts?
Disclaimer: These are genuinely my own thoughts and experiences. Not a bot..I used AI to help structure and phrase this properly since English is not my first language:)