EPISODE · Jun 29, 2025 · 5 MIN
The Performance of Authenticity
from The Fractured Self Podcast · host Rich Bennetts
In a world where every scroll is a stage, how much of "you" is truly you, and how much is a meticulously crafted performance? Join us on this episode of Fractured Self podcast as we get into the unsettling reality of performing authenticity in the age of social media. From the curated aesthetics of Instagram to the strategic vulnerability of LinkedIn, we've become masters of presenting different selves. But what's the psychological cost when "being real" becomes a brand, and "genuine" a marketing strategy?We explore the increasing rates of anxiety and identity distress, particularly among Gen Z, who are forming their very identities through public performance. Discover how the relentless pursuit of online validation is dissolving the line between living and performing, leaving our unobserved, quiet selves to atrophy. If confusion doesn't get likes and uncertainty doesn't go viral, what parts of our human experience are we editing out, not just from our posts, but from our very self-concept?This isn't just about screen time; it's about the deep internalisation of algorithmic logic, where healing journeys become narratives and trauma turns into content. We ask the uncomfortable but vital question: Who are you when no one is watching? Reconnect with the forgotten parts of yourself, the spaces between posts, and the moments that don't need to be optimised. https://www.fracturedself.com
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The Performance of Authenticity
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